By Lalit Garg
Holi is not only a religious but a cultural festival. This festival is a unique opportunity to share happiness, love and positivity. The biggest quality of Indian culture is that all the festivals celebrated here enhance the love, unity and goodwill among the people by establishing human qualities in the society.
Holi has a special message that just as nature is full of colors, life should also be full of colors. The colors of life should be such that deep reverence in God along with oneself. Holi is a perfect festival in terms of purity associated with any festival. It is a unique festival which not only associates the body, but also the soul. Holi is a festival of happiness. In fact, Holi is the festival of fun and laughter. The happiness within us, is also the color of our soul.
The most famous story about this festival is also in relation to Prahlada and Holika. Naradapurana states that Prahlada, the son of a demon named Hiranyakashipu, was an Hari-bhakta, while Hiranyakashipu considered Narayana to be his ultimate enemy. There was also a severe punishment system for chanting the name of Narayana or Srihari in his kingdom.
Seeing his son as a Hari-bhakta, he warned many times, but a supreme devotee like Prahlada was always absorbed in piety. His father tried to kill him several times by taking various measures. But, he survived every time by the grace of Narayana. Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, had the boon of not burning in the fire. So she entered the fire with her nephew Prahlad in her lap. But by the grace of God, Prahlada came out alive and Holika was burned.
The festival of Holi signifies ‘Victory of Truth over untruth and ‘Victory of Virtue over Misconduct’. In this way, the festival of Holi also symbolizes the victory of truth, justice, devotion and faith and the destruction of injustice, sin and demonic practices.
Holi is a festival that breaks all our limits and unites us. That is why we color each other and say, May your life also be full of colors. Apart from the euphoria of colors, there are many other mythological stories to celebrate the festival of Holi. In North East India, Holika dahan is celebrated as the slaughter day of demonic Putna by Lord Krishna, is celebrated as Putna Daah, then in South India it is believed that on this day Lord Shiva consumed the third eye shell of Kamadeva and he danced the ashes on his body.
It is believed that Lord Shiva revived Kamdev, being moved by the grief of Kamadeva’s wife Rati, which pleased the gods and showered them with colors. For this reason, on the eve of Holi, fire is ignited in South India and sugarcane, mango blossom and sandalwood are added to it. Here, sugarcane symbolizes the bow of Cupid, mango blossom of Cupid, the burning of Cupid by the burning fire Shiva and the chanting of sandalwood to calm Kamdev for burning with fire.
Many cultural and public related programs are held to celebrate Holi. The events of Holi in metropolitan culture have given Holi a new zeal and enthusiasm. In these events, there are cultural programs to play songs in a very polite manner. Ghoomar which is a Rajasthani event associated with Holi, people get excited about it. Delicious food items with sandalwood tilak and refresher drinks give this festival a dignified image. In late night ghoomar, dandiya dance and singing troupes from different regions enhance their fun and joy as the night progresses through their performances.
Today, due to the deformity of the Pollutions and anti environment, the entire environment has become polluted and fearful; all the colours of life have fallen. There was no mutual trust, no mutual love, nor a sublime feeling of cooperation, nor did the tone of unity arise in the struggle. No one held hands in the crowd of scattering, nor did anyone release the request.
Like this, the divided mind is standing alone in the hope of finding everything again. How false is this wait, how much meaning is this reception. Let us also bring together the countless possibilities of the future and create a conscious atmosphere again. Make a pledge to fill the colour of truth in it. Holi requires an atmosphere and a mind too; a mind where we are all one and uproot the filthy layers of the mind so that all the faces reflected in the mirror of the undivided mind can be felt by us.
In Mathura and Vrindavan, the grand hues of Holi are observed. With the arrival of spring – Basantotsav, the atmosphere of Vrindavan is included in a wonderful fun, the festival of spring is also celebrated with great pomp here. The joy of this festival does not slow down even when it starts, the cool month of Falgun.
The traditions of Phalgun month and Holi are related to the pastimes of Shri Krishna and have special significance in the devotee’s heart. Celebrating the colorful and joyous festival of Holi with a full devotion of Shri Krishna is a unique experience.
In order to paint themselves in the color of this divine month and Holi, devotees come to Vrindavan from far off places and celebrate Holi with full enthusiasm. The environment of Vrindavan is filled with Shri Krishna vibes and the fun of Holi prevails in that too. The special heart-touching dance of the group of devotees is very attractive as soon as it is made in the holy land of Vrindavan. There is no kind of worry, no malice and no madams, only a pleasant atmosphere prevails. To organize Holi in its entirety, we need not only the mind, but also the atmosphere and this is seen in Vrindavan.
The word Holi means ‘purity’ in the English language. Purity is useful to every person and if the heritage of purity is associated with this festival, then the importance of this festival becomes hundred percent.
The question is, how permanent is this happiness, which becomes a passion in the days of Holi?
The melodic sound of dhapli (drums) and the Dandiya Raas chimes limited the usefulness of a festival like Holi to what can only be called instantaneous happiness, while expecting this tradition of colors to provide long-term. Such a bond of affection and respect, of love, of friendship and harmony should be tied on which a person can be inspired to do something new. Celebration is the nature of consciousness and the celebration that emanates from silence is real. Holi is a celebration of consciousness. The more one feels joyful by him, the more colors are filled with colors in his life.
In a festival like Holi, all kinds of distractions are erased, then it should be felt that in the fire of Holi, all our sufferings, sorrows, worries, animosity, etc. should be ignited and the colors of happiness, cheerfulness and joy in life should be scattered.
We should take some resolution and it can be resolved that we ourselves live a peaceful life and wish for a peaceful life for all. Such a resolution and such a life can really make Holi meaningful.
Lalit Garg is a senior journalist based in New Delhi.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times
