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This weekend, as we celebrate the coming of spring with the many hues of Holi, NEETI SARKAR gauges the mood in the city
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Photo: Mohammed Yousuf
Run riot A welcome splash of colour
It is known as the festival of spring, the day that commemorates the victory of good over evil, a time for social gatherings and merry making, but better known as the festival of colours. Holi is one occasion that is believed to cut across the bounda
ries of religion, gender and age. But with our fast-paced lives, do people actually celebrate Holi in all its grandeur?
Ajith Joshi, a student says, “Holi is the time when we have maximum fun. Even parents don’t stop us from going out and playing. In fact, everyone is a part of the celebration.”
However, Dilip Patnaik, a businessman, feels that as “Holi is a restricted holiday, it does not give everyone the time to bring one’s work to a full stop and splash coloured water on each other.” He believes that “tradition is dying out because of time constraints”.
Says Brijesh Sinha, an engineering student, “Although Holi is celebrated across the country, in some regions the festivity is more. As much as I look forward to celebrating Holi, I know I won’t completely enjoy myself since the celebrations here are not as extravagant there as in the North.”
In earlier times, Holi colours (gulal) were believed to provide medicinal effects. However, toxins have come to replace the original content.
Are people aware of the environmentally safe colours to use? Dilip feels that, “most often people are not aware that there are environmentally safe colours that can be used. He also thinks that “people in cosmopolitan areas don’t have enough time to look carefully into the content of the colours. At the end of the day, people just want to have fun. Health hazards unfortunately are sidelined at times like these.”
Every festival has its share of traditions and one such practice associated with Holi is applying oil in the hair. Sudheeptha Ganapathi, a housewife, says, “The two major traditions that we follow are the burning of the effigy of the evil Holika and applying Holi colours on one another in the neighbourhood.”
Shilpa Patade, a classical music teacher, gives us further insight into some of the traditions that add to the festivities during Holi. According to her, “Mothers are expected to buy their married daughters new clothes for the occasion. Sons-in-law and their families are usually invited for a meal on this day. Also newly-wed brides are expected to appear in the traditional attire and play pranks on older married couples in the family.”
And can there be an Indian festival without the attendant goodies to eat? So too with Holi where delicacies like “gujjia, kanje ke vade and papri are among the mouth-watering treats that are prepared,” she adds.
Naina Suraj, a P.R. executive “enjoys the custom of drinking thandai with family and friends. On Holi, there are no restrictions. It’s a day when one can enjoy life khulke.”
Aviva, her colleague, comments, “Folk songs and dances get everyone into the groove.”
Announcing the colourful entry of spring and denouncing segregation based on religion, language, age and sex, Holi is one of those festivals that unifies hearts. So get your pichkaris ready and soak in the jolly atmosphere.
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