Spring time in
India, flowers and fields are abloom in their resplendent glory
and the country goes wild with people running on the streets and
smearing each other with brightly hued powders and coloured
water. This is the festival of Holi, celebrated on the day after
the full moon in early March every year.
Houses are given a fresh coat of color, beautiful floral designs
are drawn at the entrance, and powdered colors and spraying
pistons are bought. Young men and women mingle freely and
participate in dances and cultural programs. Young men throw
coloured powder and coloured water on women, using pichkaris.
The origin of this custom can be found in the pranks of Krishna,
who used to drench milkmaids in the village with water and play
various other tricks on them.
In
earlier days the colors were extracted from a flower that blossoms only
during this festival. People used vegetable dyes like those from the
tesu or palash flower which gave a lovely yellow colour and was supposed
to be good for the skin. The chemical colours now used can be harmful.
And the pistons were made of bamboo sticks. But over the years colors
are made artificially and pistons made of different materials are
available in various designs.
Holi is also synonymous with bhang, which is consumed by many in the
form of laddoos and ghols. One could get away with almost anything on
this day; squirting coloured water on passers-by and dunking friends in
the mud pool saying "bura na mano, Holi hai" (don't feel offended, it's
Holi). Holi is the time when people from all castes and social strata
come together forgetting all past differences and grievances. Today
having lost its original significance, the festival is a favourite with
most Indians for being the most colourful and joyous of all. Every year
it succeeds in bridging the social gap, between employers and employees,
men and women. People visit homes, distribute sweets and apply gulal (colour)
on each other, signifying the colourful and happy spring times ahead.
They greet each other, embracing three times. Apart from this usual fun
with coloured powder and water, Holi is marked by vibrant processions,
which are accompanied by folk songs, dances and a general sense of
abandoned gaeity.
