Times have changed, but traditions have not changed, know the unique story of Holi of Barsi village.

Barsi village, located about 45 kilometers from Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, comes into discussion every year on the occasion of Holi due to its unique and ancient tradition. Holi festival is celebrated with Holika Dahan across the country. At the same time, there is colors and enthusiasm in this village, but the tradition of Holika Dahan is not followed.

What is recognition?

Villagers say that this tradition is centuries old and there is deep religious faith behind it. A very ancient Shiva temple is situated in the western part of the village, which is believed to be related to the Mahabharata period. Local people believe that Lord Shiva himself is present in this temple. There is a belief that if Holika Dahan is done inside the village, the heat of its fire can affect the feet of Lord Shiva. Due to this belief, Holika Dahan has not been done in the village till date and people have been following this tradition with full devotion.

However, in Barsi village Holi is celebrated with full happiness and traditional customs. People share the joy of the festival by applying colors to each other and with mutual brotherhood. But to worship Holika Dahan, married women and daughters of the village go to other nearby villages and worship as per the rituals. Due to this, their religious faith also remains intact and the village tradition also continues.

Many mythological stories are prevalent about the temple.

Many mythological stories are also prevalent about this Shiva temple. According to a belief, this temple was built by Duryodhana, the eldest son of the Kauravas. It is said that when Bhima, the mighty son of the Pandavas, saw the temple, he changed the direction of the main gate of the temple by striking it with his mace. For this reason, the entrance of the temple turned towards the west and it came to be known as the west-facing Shiva temple.

According to another folklore, Lord Krishna also stayed at this place while going to Kurukshetra during the Mahabharata war and gave it special religious significance. With the passage of time, this place became a center of religious faith and the identity of the village also became linked to this belief.

Today, even in this era of modernity, the people of Barsi village are following their ancient tradition with full devotion and respect. Amidst the colors and joy of Holi, Holika Dahan is not done here, which clearly shows the glimpse of their faith and belief in Lord Shiva. This tradition makes this village different and special from other places.