Barpeta Doul Mahotsav integral to Holi celebration in Assam

A unique four-day celebration of Doul Mahotsav, which is an integral part of Holi in Assam, was celebrated with much fan-fare at Barpeta, an important seat of Vaishnavite culture and traditions.
The festival was celebrated last week at Barpeta Sattra (Monastery) in the district in lower Assam. The monastery, founded by Vaishnav saint Sankardeva's disciple Madhavdeva resonated with sounds of cymbals and Holi geets for four days.
More than a lakh of people, including women who are otherwise barred from entering the sattra during the rest of the year, thronged the monastery to celebrate the festival.
"The doul mahatsov celebrated at this sattra is unique to the region and is based on the legend of Lord Krishna's visit to his consort Ghunusa that angers his wife," senior monk of the Sattra, also called the Burha Sattradhikar, Bashista Deva Sarma said.

First day of 'Doul' festival is called 'Gondh' which begins with a bonfire of reeds set ablaze by disciples of the monastery in front of main prayer hall (kirtanghar), he said.
The kirtanghar is an architectural marvel, reflecting the distinctive characteristics of the namghar (temple) as visualised by Sankardeva, where major religious activities of the monastery are held, he said.
The image of Krishna, also called 'Kaliya Gosain' (the dark lord) by the locals, is carried around ritualistically in a procession as devotees play the cymbals and drums, he said.
The image is then placed near the fire before being taken back into the shrine, Sarma added.