Mangela Kolis are a fishing community residing in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
The annual Holi festival of the community is known as Shimga and is celebrated
in a unique way.
Suhasinis (married women) perform puja in front of a
selected betel nut tree trunk (arecanut tree). It is then ceremoniously brought
to the village.
The Kolis look upon the tree-trunk as a goddess and venerate
it. It is treated like a bride.
Women anoint it with turmeric paste and bath it by pouring
water over it. It is the dressed with flowers.
This is followed by the ceremony of ‘Oti Bharan’ – lap filling.
This is similar to the ritual dedicated to a bride. Betel nuts, paan, coconuts,
veni comb and mirror, rice and dry fruits are placed in a yellow cloth and the
bundle is tied to the tree trunk.
The arecanut tree is then taken out in a procession around
the wadi or village. It is then erected in a pit at a chosen spot.
A puja is the performed and various offerings including sweets
are placed in front of the tree.
Dressed in their best, men and women dance around the tree
throughout the night – they eat, drink and rejoice. Early morning a bonfire is
lit around the base of the tree trunk. When it falls down, it is taken in a procession
to the sea for immersion.