Holi makes the whole nation enjoy boundless joy by playing with vibrant colored powders or colored water together with loved ones. Holi celebrations in the northern part of India are quite boisterous and lively. In contrast, South India sees rather sober and restrained Holi celebrations. Nationwide, however, West Bengal celebrates Holi in a distinctive way. This unique Holi celebration was first started by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore in Shantiniketan and continues to this day. On this day, girls and women look bright and beautiful dressed in yellow sarees and welcome spring!
Holi is known by different names across the country. In Haryana, it is popular under the name of Dulandi Holi while people of Maharashtra call it Rangpanchami or Shimgo. Similarly, in West Bengal, Holi is popularly known as Basant Utsav, Dol Yatra or Dol Purnima. Here the celebrations are known for their grace, and the dignified way in which they are celebrated. From little girls to grown women, they dress in bright yellow saris with flower garlands around their necks and sing melodious songs to welcome the season of spring.
It is a tradition to wear bright yellow sarees for this Holi celebration in West Bengal. In most cases, yellow cotton sarees with plain green or red borders are the ones seen on women. Alternatively, few women choose to wear lustrous yellow silk saree, yellow art silk saree and Mysore yellow silk saree among so many varieties of silk saree.
For a traditional look, the plain yellow silk saree certainly looks the best. However, yellow silk sarees with green or red borders contrasted with a woven zari pattern and embellishments like sequins and beads really enhance the beauty of a woman on this enchanting day. Also, yellow silk sarees that reveal printed or zari-woven buttas are even better options. The tradition of wearing yellow sarees on this day derives from the name of the festival – Basant Utsav. Basanti means the color of saffron and hence the practice of wearing saffron saree or more popularly yellow saree. The yellow sarees worn by women on this day are not bright lime yellow; instead, they are in deep yellow tones that lean toward orange and saffron.
Although fashion designer sarees are the current trend, it is the traditional yellow cotton sarees or yellow silk sarees that rule the day. Women draped in vibrant yellow sarees gracefully sing and dance to herald the spring season, making this unique Holi celebration quite enchanting.