HOLI!!!!

Bisho, Jinu and Francis

All of us after a battle of colors

Our first big holiday celebration in India was an awesome one – Holi! We had the day off from school so we had plenty of time to “enjoy only” (that’s what everyone here calls having a great time). There were some leftover colors from the volunteers of last year, but we also went out to get more over the course of both days. The colors range from pink (most prominent) to dark blue and red to green, all being very vibrant and in a powder form. Since everyone is sweaty or water is also included, the powder sticks very nicely to clothes and skin. In the agricultural sense, Holi symbolizes the end of winter and the coming of Spring with its vibrant colors. But this Hindu tradition is also based on several different myths.

Holi is celebrated on two days, this year it was March 8 and 9. On the eve of Holi, Holika Dahan takes place. This is based on a legend involving an evil king named Hiranyakashipu. He forbade his son Prahlad from worshipping Vishnu, but Prahlad continued to offer prayers to the god. Getting angry with his son, Hiranyakashipu challenged Prahlad to sit on a pyre with his wicked aunt Holika who was believed to be immune to fire. Prahlad accepted the challenge and prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe. When the fire started, everyone watched in amazement as Holika was burnt to death, while Prahlad survived without a scar to show for it. The burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi. According to some accounts, Holika begged Prahlad for forgiveness before her demise, and he decreed that she would be remembered every year at Holi.



At Sir Pintu's house on day 1

Holi also celebrates the legend of Radha and Krishna which describes the extreme delight Krishna took in applying colour on Radha and other gopis. This is what we actually did on both days, even though the coloring part only takes place on the second day. We went over to one of our fellow teacher’s house and played with his daughter and many of our young friends. It was a blast!!! We used a kind of water gun called pichkari and buckets of water to get everyone cooled down and sticky. Before we knew it, everyone was tearing the little bags of powder open and color went everywhere!! This part of Holi is meant for pure enjoyment and a way to let loose… bura na mano, Holi hai  means “don't feel offended, it's Holi". My kind of holiday ;-) At the end, we were offered sweet drinks and sugary snacks, a Holi custom.

Charlotte and I with some of the hostel girls on the sports field

The next day at school, some of the students were playing and they got into lots of trouble for it. Glitter is also part of the ammunition for Holi and my 11^th graders, albeit hesitant at first, put so much glitter in my face!!! After school, on this actual day for merry-making, we ran out on the Holy Cross field with more friends and went wild! It’s so fun because there are really no restrictions as to whom or how much color you can apply, and everyone takes advantage of this rule. Even out on the streets, some people would come up to us and put colors on our faces.  After a great day, we all went back to holi our cat Jack and take outdoor showers. What a mess!! The five of us agreed to bring this holiday back to the States so that no one is deprived of the fun!

Below is a poem that I found online about  the Holika tradition.

Holika Dahan
Year after year
purity of fire
is challenged by evil,
appeased with offerings

A full moon looks on
as winds stoke embers,
flare flames
to a flickering dance

Right in the center
of crimson blaze
sits Holika,
Prahlad in her lap -
her arms a circle of heat

White sparks fly from her hair,
eyes smolder in fury;
her mouth sucks in air,
engulfs rice and wheat

Wood chars,
coconuts splinter,
flowers singe
smearing earth with ash.

Year after year
faith survives.
Holika burns to death.