Indian Holi Festival

Indian Holi Festival

Introduction

On March 21, 2019, the Aljazeera reported about millions of Hindus and other South Asians celebrating the Holi Festival. The article emphasized on Hindus marking the onset of spring with colors, in songs, and dancing (“Aljazeera,” 2019). The article described thousands of Indians from all classes and age groups daubed in brightly colored powdered, dancing, and singing while distributing sweets, gifts, and many other incentives. Similarly, CNN travel published a similar article on their web page on the same date elaborating why Indians celebrate the Holi festival (Suri). The CNN article aimed to enlighten individuals planning to travel to India to celebrate the festival on why the festival is an essential practice in the Hindu culture and tradition.

Holi festival is a famous ancient Hindu celebration. Also known as the Festival of colors, the Holi festival is popularly celebrated in India and Nepal. It is one of the oldest Indian festivals embraced in other parts of the Asian continent. The Holi festival embraces so much fun and joy to the extent that its mention triggers smiles and enthusiasm amongst the people (“Holi,” 2019). The Holi festival is conjoined with the arrival of the season of joy and hope known as the ‘spring’; to signify good over evil. The Holi festival is such a vibrant and vital occasion as it brings people together irrespective of their religion, caste, or creed. As a tradition, it signifies equality, unity, and love amongst the people.

The Changes and Perspectives of Holi Festival

The Holi festival in India first occurred on 22 March 1913 at the full moon in the month of Phalguna. It occurred a day after the equinox when the Sun enters the Aries.  The equinox is when the sun is at the center of the Equator (“Holi,” 2019). According to the Hindu calendar, the Holi takes place when most essential crops are maturing towards the spring harvest. It is time to break and rest from any farming activities. The Hindu poets over the years have described the period as a period of happiness and rejoice: the season for marriage since the sun moves northwards in the heavens.

Mythology states that Hiranyakashyap, the king of demons, ordered all his subjects to obey and fear him. However, all complied except one, Prahlad, the demon’s son. History records that the boy was an active worshiper of Lord Vishnu (Siddhi). Despite his father’s warning, Prahlad remained loyal to Vishnu.  Hiranyakashyap tried several times to kill his son Prahlad but failed. He then ordered his sister Holika to take Prahlad, put him on her lap then sit on a pyre. Holika had a boon that protected her from fire; therefore, there was a belief that she would not get consumed by the fire. Surprisingly, Prahlad survived the fire while Holika burnt to death (Siddhi). Prahlad’s salvation saved him from fire, while the evil deeds of his father led to the death of his sister. Therefore in the eve of Holi, bone fires are lit and prayers offered in the triumph of good over evil.

The feast usually commences with the lighting of the fire to signify the full moon of Phalguna that extends for three days. However, in some places, the celebrations usually last longer, for example, twenty days in Bombay, a week or more in Western India, and fifteen days in Poona (Crooke pg. 3). In Northern India, the pile usually consists of a layer of dried cow dung, logs, brushwood, and rubbish erected in the east of the village. The fuel bursts into a flame in which men and animals are driven. This rite is known as firewalking. A pit is dug in which quantities of firewood are arranged then set ablaze (Crooke pg. 4). The performers then walk through the blazing embers. The materials are provided by the members of the village and are collected from the jungle by the people who are seen as jobless during the season.

Mythology has established an understanding of the origin of Holi. However, the big question remains as to why colors are incorporated into the celebration. This explanation has been interpreted based on the popular folklore of Lord Krishna and Mathura. It is believed that Lord Krishna wondered why he was dark while his companion Radha was fair. Therefore, his mother advised him that he could smear any color on Radha’s face and change her skin tone to any color that he felt pleased. Intrigued by the idea, Lord Krishna proceeded to do so and thus introduced the festival of colors (Siddhi). Amongst the Badagas, a subgroup in India, the bride and groom pour water on each other’s feet when exchanging vows. The water is colored by either red or yellow dyes to add efficacy in the charm of marriage (Crooke pg. 28). The colored water sprinkled on the groom signifies fruitfulness in the marriage. During the festival of Holi, the coloring signifies fruitfulness, love, and best of luck in endeavors.

In Mathura, the festival is celebrated for up to sixteen days. Lord Krishna grew up in Mathura. Nowadays, the festival is celebrated for a maximum of two days filled with synthetic colors, dyes, and colorants (Crooke pg. 3).  Holi festival has changed over the years as a result of the emergence of new products, mixtures in cultures, and the numerous myths coming up surrounding it.  However, the festival has continued to the favorite of many across India.

The significance and contributions of the Holi Festival

In India, the festival has evolved commercially with the arrival of both small and large colorant vendors. The festival has improved the Industrial sector via the set-up of dye Industries, which have immensely contributed to the economic development of India (“Holi,” 2019). The industries have established employment opportunities for the large Indian population. The commercial availability of attractive synthetic colors has replaced natural colors.

The Holi festival has hugely contributed to bringing together societies. It has become a favorite amongst many other communities who are celebrating and have it incorporated into their customs and traditions. For example, people in Trinidad celebrate the festival accompanied by their inspirational songs and traditional rituals (Crooke pg. 15). Also, the Holi festival has succeeded in establishing higher social intelligence. As a tradition of the Holi, enemies turn friends during Holi and forget any forms of hardship or grudge between them. The festival hence assumes a mediation and peace-making role (“Holi,” 2019). It creates a platform for free interaction and equality. On the day of Holi, people do not differentiate between the rich and poor. Instead, the festival is celebrated in a spirit of brotherhood and togetherness. On the eve of Holi, people visit one another and exchange gifts and many other incentives. It helps foster strong bonds and emotions in relationships amongst the people.

Culturally, the legends associated with Holi reassure the people of the power of sticking to the truth and always being assertive. It reassures that truth is the ultimate victory weapon of good against evil. In the Indian culture, the narrative of Hiranyakashyap and Prahlad attests to the fact that devotion to God is rewarded with mercy (Siddhi). God protects and is always with his pure devotee. The story as a factor to cultural competence helps shape how people live with one another. It guides the people to stick to being useful in their lives and believe in the virtue of truthfulness. This is a lesson extremely relevant in contemporary societies whereby many people resort to all forms of activities for elfish gains and ending up hurting and torturing many in the process. Holi establishes the virtue of honesty and truthfulness. Also, the celebration is conducted at a time of the year when the fields are ripe of harvest, psyching the people into the mood and spirit of celebrating Holi.

Aside from fun and joy, the Holi festival is significant biologically to the body. Scientifically, the Holi festival is celebrated at an accurate time. The festival comes at a time of the year when most people feel lazy and sleepy (“Holi,” 2019). At the time of Holi, the body experiences tardiness due to the increase in the amount of heat in the atmosphere. The rapid movement when singing loudly and dancing helps counteract the tardiness in the boy, thereby rejuvenating body systems. Also, biologists believe that the liquid in the dye, when sprayed on the body, gets into the body system through the pores in the skin. This liquid has an effect of strengthening and beautifying body ions (“Holi,” 2019). The mutation period of winter and spring fastens the growth of bacteria in the body. During Holi, when people go around the fire, the high temperatures of the fire kills the bacteria hence cleansing the body.

Finally, most people believe that playing with colors helps promote good health and have a significant impact on our body strength and vigor. Physicians believe that the body needs colors alongside other vital elements for good health (“Holi,” 2019). Psychologists have discovered that specific colors affect the human appetite, could help in weight loss, and, aside from many other vital body functions. Hence, the many aspects of Holi reveal its significance in human lives. Therefore, there are several reasons why humans should enjoy and cherish the festival and its celebrations.