Play safe Holi, love yourself and others
Holi is known as the festival of colours and love which is celebrated by everyone with joy. Traditionally, Rang wali Holi was called dhulandi and it was played only with colours derived from plants. People used to greet and visit everyone’s houses with sweets. Bhaang was served as a Prasad. However, for the last some years, people have forgotten the essence of Holi i.e. the triumph of good over evil. Toxic colours have replaced their natural derivatives and people enjoy applying them to animals as well. These toxic colours can cause skin rashes in humans and can also cause eye damage. Animals have a very sensitive skin; these colours cause itching, it can damage the eyes of the animals and it can cause death if the animal tries to lick the colour off their fur. If you wish to celebrate Holi with animals, do so by feeding them clean water and good food. Also, please don’t drink and drive this Holi.
Play safe Holi. Love yourself. Love others.
C.K. Subramaniam
Let’s play a safe Holi!
Festivals in India are a reflection of the country’s cultural and religious richness. Holi is one such important festival. Holi, the festival of colours, is undoubtedly the most fun-filled and boisterous of all Hindu festivals. However, it has been observed that the residential societies waste a lot of water while celebrating this festival.
People should remember that the festival of Holi is about spreading joy. Forcing the rituals on people who do not want to participate in the festivities is wrong. A celebration for some should not turn into a nightmare for others. Holi gives us the message of friendship and goodwill. On this occasion, we forget our old quarrels with people and mix with one another freely. At least for a day, we forget social distinctions completely. On Holi, there is no difference between the rich and the poor. Holi gives us great joy. It is a happy occasion when we forget our anxieties. Some people also sing vulgar songs, use abusive language, and abuse women too. We should celebrate Holi in a decent way.
Jubel D’Cruz
Strange! Only women are allowed to play Holi in this village
We all know that Holi is the festival of love, happiness, and colour. Everyone on this grand day plays with colour and celebrates the occasion with full zeal and enthusiasm. However, in a bizarre incident, there is a village where only women are allowed to play Holi. We are talking about a unique tradition that has been going on for many years in village ‘Kundra’ in Hamirpur, UP, in which children are not allowed to play Holi and only women have the power to play with colours. According to the village, it was decided that all the women of the village would celebrate this festival of Holi with all ritual and all men would go out from the village on that day. The women will celebrate this festival with great fanfare and go to the temples and perform darshan too.
M A Qasmi
May the festival of colours brighten the lives of all!
India is a multilingual country and communal fabric of the nation is what binds the citizens together. Different festivals of all communities celebrated irrespective of caste and creed propagate peace and unity among all. Holi, the festival of colours and bonfire has special importance as it signifies the victory of good over evil which teaches us to fight for survival till we are successful be it any goal in life. However, the festival like any other has been commercialised of late which calls for caution. The citizens should behave rationally and festivities should not be celebrated at the expense of environment.
Thousands of tons of wood are used in ‘Holika’ fire celebrated on every road corner of the country which should give way to community celebrations collectively that protects deforestation. Every tree cut should be replaced by double the number of plantation for a greener environment. Burning wood pyre causes air pollution that can be minimised by low key celebrations as a mark of tokenism. The world is facing water shortage on account of rising population and the top priority should be using water for basic needs like drinking. Wasting water on festivities and enjoyment is a crime that needs to be avoided. Harmful chemicals that have adverse affect on health should be banned and people should only play with organic colours that are eco-friendly.
Festivals unite people and unity strengthens our country. Every festival provides us an opportunity to not just forget our differences and hatred but celebrations sow the seed of Peace, Happiness, and Prosperity!
Happy Holi to all!
SN Kabra
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
