Doljatra is a colourful festival of the Hindus, particularly in Bangladesh, West Bengal and eastern Indian states. According to Vaishnav belief, on this day, Lord Krishna played with Radhika and other gopis with Abir or Gulal in Vrindavan. From that incident the swing game originated. It is observed on the full moon day in the month of Falgun. The day is fixed, but as Bengali lunar calendar is followed the date is changed every year. For this year the date is (according to Bengali calendar followed in Bangladesh) 22nd Falgun, 1429/ 7th March, 2023. In earlier year the date was 4th Chaitra, 1428/18th March, 2022.  As observed on the full moon day this festival is also known as Dol Purnima. On this day, idols of Krishna and Radha, highly adorned with coloured powder, colourful clothes, flowers and leaves are placed on a palanquin in front of a procession. Normally two persons carry the palanquin and the procession marches. Along with marching the palanquin swings. Probably for this reason this festival is called Doljatra (swinging journey). As Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born on this day it is also called Gaur Purnima.
There are different legends regarding this festival. It is believed that Krishna was born and grew up at Mathura (Braja or Brijabhumi) in the Indian state of Uttarpradesh. This festival is grandly celebrated there. According to one legend, the day is celebrated as Rang Panchami to commemorate the divine love of Radha and Krishna. Outside this sub-continent, the legend of Holi is found in some Caribbean and South American communities of Indian origin. This festival is observed in Mauritius and Nepal .also.
There is a legend regarding Doljatra which is related to Lord Shiv, Parvati and Kamdev (the god of love). Ahead of marriage with Shiv, Parvati sought help of Kamdev on the day of Vasanta Panchami to bring Shiv back from yoga and engage in real world. Kamdev and his wife Rati (goddess of love) tried to help Parvati so that Parvati can get Shiv as her husband. Shiv was engaged in deep meditation. Kamdev and Rati disrupted Shiv's meditation and shot arrow at him to marry Parvati. Due to such interruption in meditation Shiv opened his third eye and Kamdev was burnt into ashes with the blaze of that eye. Being angry Rati rebounded the arrow, but the arrow did not work and was destroyed before piercing Shiv. Later Shiv and Parvati got married. During their marriage, Rati prayed to Shiv to return Kamdev to her. Shiv agreed and Rati got Kamdev back. This return of the god of love is celebrated as Holi forty days after the Vasant Panchami festival. There are variations in this legend particularly in the festival of Holi mainly in South India.
This festival is also observed by Jains and some Buddhists of Nepal. Sikhs traditionally observed it as a festival, throughout the 19th century. They called this festival as Hola. Guru Gobind Singh, the last human guru of Sikhs, changed Holi to a three-day Hola Mohalla festival, The Holi festival was expanded and martial arts was included into it This growth of Holi festival began after the festival of Anandpur Sahib. At Anandpur Sahib, Sikh soldiers participate in mock battles, horse races, archery, physical and other military exercises.
Holi was celebrated in the Sikh Empire during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (13th November, 1780 to 27th June, 1839) and observation of this festival spread to the northern regions of the then India. He was born at Gujranwala and died at Lahore, Both of these places are now in Pakistan. According to a report of Tribune India, a Sikh Durbar document informs that in 1837 Ranjit Singh, his officers and employees used 300 maunds of paint in Lahore to celebrate this festival. It was observed with others at Bilbal Gardens where many decorated tents were erected. Sir Henry Fenn,, the then Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army, joined this festival. Ranjit Singh initiated a wall painting in the Lahore Fort showing Krishna playing Holi with the gopis. After his death, his sons and others continued the celebration with colour and pomp and were attended by British officials.
Doljatra: It is a festive day when people settle their quarrels and disputes among them, forget enmity, forgive others and start new contracts. The festival of Holi also heralds the arrival of spring. For many, it marks the beginning of a new year. It is a festival for people to enjoy the change of seasons and make new friends.
Doljatra festival is known as Vasanta Utsav (Spring Festival) in Santiniketan. At the beginning schools in Santiniketan used to celebrate the arrival of spring with a small domestic function, including dance, recitation, staging drama etc. Along the flow of time this event has become one of the most popular festivals of Santiniketan. On this day, spring festival is organised at Santiniketan. Vaitalik is performed in the earlier night. The main programme begins with the song O the householder open the door in the morning of Dholjatra day. In the evening, a play by Rabindranath is performed in the main courtyard.
Doljatra is celebrated on a full moon day and the festival is dedicated to Lord Krishna. It often coincides with the day of the north-Indian festival of Holi or the day before Doljatra.  It is celebrated in a similar manner in states like West Bengal, Assam, Odisha and parts of other Indian states. It is the last festival of the year according to Bengali calendar. Through this festival people warmly welcome the spring, get together and share joyous moments.
Both Doljatra and Holi are almost similar in observation, but there is some differences between these two. While Holi is based on the legend of Prahlad, an incarnation of Vishnu, Doljatra revolves around Krishna and Radha. Krishna is also an incarnation of Vishnu. Dol begins on the day after a full moon night in Falgun, in Vrindavan. According to a legend, on this day Krishna first expressed his love for Radha by throwing 'Phag' (powdered colour similar to gulaal) on her face while she was playing with her sakhis (maids) sitting on a  swing. Holi, on the other hand, is based on the legend of Holika and her nephew Prahlad. While Doljatra celebrates the love between Radha and Krishna, the north-Indian festival Holi marks the power and victory of good over evil.  
On the occasion of Dol Purnima there is a tradition of playing colour in the capital, especially in old Dhaka. During this festival, Hindu devotees of all ages, including children and women paint one another with a variety of colours. Due to Covid-19 pandemic this festival could not be observed openly in two earlier years. It is expected that this year the devotees will observe this festival joyfully.

The writer is a former Commissioner of Taxes