By Jiwachha Yadav/Jaya Krishna Yadav, Lahan/Inaruwa, Mar. 10: The Holi Jogira tradition, once practiced all over Terai to mark the start of the Holi festival, is gradually vanishing.

Community leaders are worried that the loss of the Jogira tradition, coupled with the increasing use of alcohol and other intoxicants during Holi, is weakening the festival’s religious and cultural values and decreasing its significance among the people.

“The Jogira song, sung with harmonium and traditional drums, promotes good relations among people,” Dr. Anil Jha, professor at J.S. Murarka Multiple Campus, Lahan, said. “It also marks the beginning of Holi which is the second most important festival in Terai after Chhath.”

According to Jha, the Jogira song used to echo from every single village from the day of Basanta Panchami and people used to sing it for one whole month. “But the practice started declining a few decades ago and has all but vanished now,” he expressed his dismay.

People celebrate Holi in the name of Fagua by receiving coloured powder with blessings from elders and remembering the victory of virtue over evil.

“People used to go door-to-door singing hymns of Lord Ram defeating Ravan, Krishna defeating Kansha, the Pandavs defeating the Kauravs and Lord Narsingha coming to save his devotee Prahalad,” recalled Magain Kamait of Padariya, Lahan – 11. He called on the local governments to preserve this culture by organising Holi fests and encouraging Jogira groups with various incentives.

Dhanraj Ram, teacher at Janata Basic School, Bairiya Gudigaun, Lahan – 10, stated it more bluntly. “The youths only view modern vulgar songs as entertainment and have no interest in traditions.” Biltu Gupta, 70, from Lahan – 1 said. “The local radios also choose to play obscene songs rather than traditional Jogira.”

Ram Narayan Yadav of Sakhuwanankarkati Gaunpalika – 3 blamed the trend of foreign employment for the custom’s disappearance. “All the young people are abroad so who will take over from the elders?” he questioned.

In this context, Ram Chandra Thakur, chair of District Coordination Committee (DCC), Siraha informed everyone that the DCC was coordinating with all the 17 local governments of the district to organise Jogira competitions to preserve the culture.

Meanwhile, the locals of Sunsari have disregarded the administration’s call to avoid celebrating Holi and have gathered in large numbers to enjoy the festival of colours.

The locals of Koshi, Barju, Devangunj, Bhokraha Narsingha and Gadhi Gaunpalikas as well as Inaruwa Municipality celebrated Holi by exchanging goodwill and smearing each other red.

The wards and municipalities also organised special Holi programmes and good wish exchange programmes for their respective residents.

But here too, everyone expressed worry about the disappearing Jogira songs. “People from various castes, ethnicities and religions used to forget their differences and come together for Jogira, but the practice is vanishing and is being replaced by DJs,” Siyalala Yadav from Gadhi Gaunpalika – 3 worried.

Meanwhile, two women were arrested in Inaruwa on Tuesday because they were going around splashing colours on people against their will.