A special ritual known as veni bharan involves placing a floral veni on Holika’s hair to complete her bridal appearance. A veni is a hair accessory made by stringing together fresh flowers such as jasmine, roses, and marigolds into a circular or crescent-shaped garland.
The Goddess is symbolically embodied by a facemask that is attached to the tree trunk, serving as the deity’s body. A horizontal pole extends from the trunk, representing the Goddess’s arms. This arrangement gives Holika an anthropomorphic form, which is worshipped by devotees.
Holika is associated with fertility, marriage, and birth; therefore, her rituals can be performed only by married women in the family, known as suvasini, and not by widows or unmarried girls.
The oti-bharan ritual is performed by a team of five married women in the family. Four women hold the ends of a rectangular piece of cloth, symbolizing of the womb (oti in Marathi).
The preparation of the effigy and the installation of decorations in Koliwadas bring together people from diverse backgrounds and communities, fostering a spirit of harmony and togetherness within the neighbourhood.
Due to restrictions on cutting trees, the tree trunk used for Holika dahan is grown in the courtyard of the home. After the festival, the branches of the unburnt tree are replanted as saplings, a process that takes nearly five years for them to mature into full trees.
Holika is associated with fertility, marriage, and birth; hence, she is treated like a new bride. Accordingly, all the rituals that are performed for the bride during a Koli wedding are also performed for Holika.