By Shashi Narasimhiah

Holi aayee re Holi – March is the month of Holi – the festival of colours during which time bright colours – traditionally red is hurled on each other along with many other activities such as singing and dancing. Only in the recent times has the pure red colour given way to pink and a host of other colours and oil paints have replaced organic dyes. Also, balloons and piston ‘pichkari’ have replaced fistfuls of dry colour powder. We are all familiar with any number of Bollywood movies which include item songs on Holi. Many romantic relationships bloom during the Holi activities and many such relations get a much needed boost!!

I still remember my own childhood, when, expecting the arrival of friends to spray or smear colours, we used to lock our front doors, enter the house from the hind door and try to hide inside the house. But then too many people did the same and therefore it was not much of a hide and friends would find us anyway, catch us and spray colours – resistance was futile. After that we too would become one among them spraying colours on others. So much of colour is sprayed and smeared that, sometimes it would be difficult to even recognise the persons!!

These days this has been toned down. But the hurling of red colour with red water by boys and girls, the consumption of bhang and the bawdy lyrics sung on the streets is still in practice.

It is not by accident that the festival comes precisely a fortnight after Maha-Shiva-Ratri as the new moon gives way to the full moon and when the winter chill in India gives way to the green beautiful Spring (Vasanta) season.

Holi is a symbol of triumph of good over evil. Holi marks the onset of spring and is also celebrated to show gratitude for a good harvest. Holi this year will be on March 20 and 21. By Hindu calendar, Holi falls on the day of Purnima (the full moon), in the month of Phalguna over two consecutive days — the first day of Holi is known as Chhoti Holi or Holika Dahan and the second as Rangwali Holi, Dhuleti, Dhulandi or Dhulivandan. On the eve of Holi, a large bonfire – Holika dahan, is lit. People gather around the fire known as Chhoti Holi and perform ‘pingpuja’ while praying for the longevity and prosperity of their loved ones.

A popular legend is the story of Hiranyakashyapu who was a demon king and wanted to be immortal. While he wanted everyone to worship him as god, his son Prahlada was a devotee of Vishnu and this used to offend him. Once he asked his sister, Holika who had a divine shawl that could not catch fire, to sit on raging flames with Prahlad in her lap. But Lord Vishnu, impressed by Prahlad’s devotion, killed both Hiranyakashyapu and his sister. Therefore, on the eve of Holi, a bonfire is burned. This, we are told, is to remind us of Holika who entered a fire carrying Prahalad, a devotee of Vishnu, intent on killing him, but was instead burned to a crisp while Prahalad was saved. The story, though popular, does not align well with the ‘fertility’ roots of Holi, so may have been added to a pre-existing fertility festivity. The name Holi is known to come from the word Holika – the sister of Hiranyakashupu. Also, it could be a deviation of the word ‘Dol’ as the full moon is called Dol Poornima, referring to the swing which Krishna swings from as he plays with colour and water with friends.

The second version of Holi celebration is – the lovable prank of Krishna where he applied colour on Radha and other gopis using water jets called “pichkaris” which gained acceptance and popularity. So much so that it evolved as a tradition and later, a full-fledged festival. Lovers long to apply colour on their beloveds’ face and express their affection for each other. This legend is wonderfully brought alive each year all over India, particularly in Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana and Nandgaon-the places which are associated with Krishna and Radha. In fact, the entire country gets drenched in the colour waters when it is time for Holi and celebrate the immortal love of Krishna and Radha. Holi also marks the demise of PutaNi who tried to kill Krishna

Yet another legend of Holi celebrations that is extremely popular in south India is that of Lord Shiva and Kaamadeva. It is believed that Kaamadeva, the god of passion, awoke Shiva from his deep meditation so he could save the world. In the south, Holika Dahan, or the burning of Holika, is referred to as Kama Dahan. This narrative connects the bonfire ritual to the fertility ritual. Shiva sets aflame Kama – the god of desire, because he dares to shoot an arrow of lust at him. Kama’s wife, Rati, begs forgiveness on the day Shiva decides to marry Parvati, which is Maha-Shiv-ratri. A less angry Shiva promises that on the full moon of Dol Poornima, he will be reborn in the body of Krishna and Rati will be reborn in the body of Radha. In Krishna’s body, the lust of Kama will be tempered with love. It will not just be about the body; it will also be about the heart – how beautiful!!

Across India Holi is celebrated in different names. In UP – Lathmar Holi, in Uttarakhand – Khadi Holi, in Punjab – Hola Mohalla, in West Bengal – Basant Utsava and Dol Jatra, in Goa – Shigmo, in Manipur – Yaosang, in Kerala – Manjali Kuli, in Bihar – Phaguwa, in Assam – Phakuwah, in Maharashtra and MP – Rang Pancham and finally in Rajastan – Royal Holi

With the Indian population/race spreading across the world, Holi is also celebrated in Fiji, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Pakistan, Phillipines and Nepal. In Kathmandu, Nepal, one week before the main Holi celebration, a Chir (bamboo pole) covered with colourful clothes is erected in Basantapur Durbar Square. On the eve of Holi, it is taken down and burnt to symbolize the death of the evil Holika.

In recent years, Holi celebrations can be noticed in Australia too – especially in Sydney and Melbourne which have large Indian populations.

Among the contemporary Indian youth, Holi is considered to be considered a great opportunity for bonding and playing pranks on friends – especially between boys and girls. Plenty of sweets and savouries are exchanged and consumed, but beware of Bhang though – which is usually mixed into drinks. Bhang is made from cannabis leaves.