Holi Festival
The spring equinox full moon signifies the two-day festival period in the Hindu calendar called Holi. Holi is also known as the Festival of Colours; powder paint is thrown into the air and smeared onto the faces and bodies of friends and family on the second day, in joyous welcome to the spring, rebirth and renewal. However, the main message is one of good triumphing over evil and has been celebrated in India and the sub-continent since the 4th century. The representation of evil is embodied in an effigy of Holika, the demon, burnt in the Holi pyre. On the first night, the fire is lit, and people gather to dance around it, celebrating the unburdening of self from past errors and the end to conflicts, as well as the end to winter. Whatever resentments and grudges each person has had toward another, they are cleansed by the Holi fire. The maxim of forget and forgive reigns, allowing for the repair and mending of broken relationships.
The fire is central to the Hindu story of Holika, the sister to King Hiranyakashyap. The King was granted a boon (powers) by Brahma. He could not be killed by an animal or a human; could not be killed, inside or outside; in the day or in the night-time; on land, in the sea or the air; by projectiles or by handheld weapons. Despite being ruler supreme, and in theory, immortal, King Hiranyakashyap’s son, Prahlad, still worshiped Lord Vishnu. This angered both the King and Holika. The King condemned his son to die in numerous and inventive ways. Prahlad was told to jump into a deep well, throw himself into a room with poisonous snakes, as well as being trampled by wild elephants. None of these various modes of demise were successful. Somehow, Prahlad survived each ordeal unhurt. Eventually, Holika made Prahlad sit with her in the pyre. She was protected from the burning embers by a sacred shawl. Lord Vishnu conjured a wind that whipped the shawl from Holika, and it wrapped itself around Prahlad. She burned in the fire and Prahlad did not. Lord Vishnu suddenly appeared as half-man, half-lion and killed King Hiranyakashyap whilst sat on his lap, using a claw hand, at dusk, on the King’s porch step. Thus finding a way to triumph over the arrogant and evil King, the King’s immortality and his sister, Holika’s fierce protection. This night is called ‘Chorti Holi’.
Rangwali Holi begins at daybreak and is a cloud of colour. It is a vaguely feral, free for all, filled with paint play, pranks and dancing. In Pushkar, the market is brimming with people covered in paint, euphoric on Holi fever. The trance music blasts out of the large speakers and the manic energy is infectious to all. At 3pm in the afternoon, people return home to shower, put on clean clothes and then visit family, offering sweets and beginning life anew together.
This playful cultural event is experienced in other ways in the villages and more rural parts of India. Children build stone blockades outside their villages and charge tolls in exchange for not having your new, clean clothes covered in paint, … it is now long after the dancing has stopped. Lath (stick) Mar (beat) Holi is where the women villagers beat the menfolk in mock anger and playfulness. This mirrors the dynamic of the famous love match between Krishna and Radha. Other tales of the couple, relate to the use of colour symbolising their love (red), Krishna (blue), food (yellow) and spring (green). In some villages near Pushkar, sticks are beaten on the doors of houses occupied by couples blessed with a son in the preceding year. One of the team at Bhopa village will have his door beaten in this way, this year.
However, this year will no doubt be different due to Covid-19 precautions as people shy away from crowds and protect their families by holding smaller celebrations. Fires will still be lit, and paint throwing will still happen. This year, triumphing over the virus will be in the forefront of everyone’s mind. Rainbows will abound in the colourful testament of faith and devotion over evil. We wish you a safe, and happy Holi from everyone at Bhopa village.
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