Deoria: In Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, the festival of Holi, a symbol of love and harmony, seems to be losing its traditional charm amid changing social trends. Experts believe that the growing culture of drinking and serving alcohol has had a profound impact on the intimacy of this festival.
According to senior citizens, in the past, Phaguwa was sung in a unique style to the beats of dholak, nagada, and jhaal in villages from Basant Panchami onwards. From the elderly to the young, everyone would sing Raag-Phaag collectively, and Holi would become a celebration of mutual love. However, in modern times, this tradition is almost on the verge of extinction.
Today, the increasing consumption of alcohol during Holi in both rural and urban areas has changed the nature of the festival. To maintain peace, the administration is having to hold peace committee meetings at every police station and deploy special police forces. Hospitals are also put on alert. This is believed to be a result of the increasing trend of intoxication during Holi.
According to historian Dr. Diwakar Tiwari, about forty years ago, ragas and phaags held special significance during Holi, but today, due to the increasing prevalence of alcohol, those traditions have been lost. Young people can be seen dancing drunk to film songs instead of traditional Holi songs.
Senior journalist MP Visharda says that alcohol consumption has become common during Holi, from cities to remote rural areas. He believes that this has affected the intimacy of the festival, and instead of embracing each other lovingly, people are seen engaging in hooliganism. He emphasizes the need for social awareness and collective efforts to save Holi from the dark shadow of alcoholism.
