The festival of Holi actually starts the night before with a bonfire made up of all the dried leaves and branches. The heat from the fire is also a reminder that winter is behind and that the hot summer days are ahead. Metaphorically though, the fire is meant to signify the destruction of evil - the burning of the ‘Holika’ - a mythological character. Days before the actual Holi begins, people start preparing for various rituals and customs at Adiware, Vadapeth which is made up of fourteen small villages called Vada situated near the beautiful coast line of Maharashtra. People from these villages gather at Mahakali Temple to perform in front of Devi Mahakali. These performances called Khele which is based on the martial art transformed into dance. Through out the night on full moon people dance and sway with the five areca palm tree called onde kept on the steps of Mahakali temple. On the day of Holi, all Khot meet at the temple in the early afternoon and put gulaal on devi which is the sign of celebration to start. With all acoustic music and dance, everyone with coloured faces get ready to take Holi which is the areca palm tree from specified vada. With the immense enthusiasm and with holy heart, everyone enjoy their participation to carry the areca palm to the place where it gets erected. The khot comes and burn the hay around the erected palm tree and the celebration with color start from that day.
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