No Holi celebrations in this Korba village for last 150 years!

When the entire country rejoices celebrating Holi, a non-descript village in the district of Korba would once again be staying away from the festival of colours.

When the entire country rejoices celebrating Holi, a non-descript village in the district of Korba would once again be staying away from the festival of colours.

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Thanks to a self-imposed ban, Kharhari village, 35 kilometres from Korba and having a population of 4000, will not be celebrating Holi as per a sesquicentennial - 150 years old - tradition.

As per one Panchram, a 80-year-old resident of the village, anecdote has it that 150 years ago, incidence of arson and epidemic were rampant in the village.

It was then that a goddess appeared in the dreams of a quack and asked him to give up Holi celebrations as a panacea for all village problems, Panchram said.

Since then, celebration of Holi in all its forms is banned in the village, he said.

Even if someone, especially youth, want to go to neighbouring village to celebrate it, they are dissuaded from doing so, he added.