City Palace Celebrates Holika Deepan Festival Traditionally

On the occasion of Falgun Purnima, the traditional Holika Deepan Festival was celebrated with great reverence at the historic Manak Chowk in City Palace, Udaipur. The Mewar royal family observed the age-old religious and social customs associated with the Holika festival, maintaining the rituals passed down through generations. 

The celebrations began with Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, a member of the Mewar royal family and the Managing Trustee of Maharana Mewar Charitable Foundation Trust, arriving at Manak Chowk in royal attire, accompanied by his family in a grand procession. At the Holika Deepan site, priests chanted sacred mantras while Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar performed the traditional worship of Holika. The ritual involved draping Holika with a cloth, offering flower garlands and fruits, and then lighting the fire. 

After the prayers, Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar lit the Holika fire, and family members performed the Holika parikrama (circumambulation), following the age-old tradition. The family members prayed for peace and prosperity for the royal family. 

The event was attended by Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar’s wife, Nivritti Kumari Mewar, daughter Mohalakshika Kumari Mewar, Praneshwari Kumari Mewar, and son Haritraj Singh Mewar, who all participated in the prayer ceremony. The City Palace courtyard was beautifully decorated with colorful flowers and lights for the occasion. 

Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar emphasized the importance of the Holika festival in preserving Hindu traditions, promoting good health, prosperity for farmers, joy, and social harmony. He extended his Holika festival wishes to all the residents of Mewar.