The day was cool,
clouds beneath the sun blocked the scorching rays providing blanket of shades,
cool breeze conditioned the surrounding and chirping birds were on their melodious
note as the Hindu folks around the vicinity joined to celebrate Holi: The festival
of colors.
From the very start of
the day, many celebrants thronged our apartment’s entrance gate carrying
colors, beating drums, singing, shouting and calling us to open the gate for
them and join their celebration. We remained silent inside, fearing at any
moment if they manage to open the gate or if we happen to open it for them; we
will be painted and turned into dirty canvas of their random skills. Happily, they
didn’t force us to join their celebration.
 |
| Happy Holi!!!!!!!!!! |
But, no sooner did
those Hindu folks leave, our own Bhutanese friends paid uninvited visit
with packets of colors and started painting each other from head to toe. Color
fight gained its momentum first within friend circle and later the whole
Bhutanese in Ajmer. After every fight and so called uninvited visit with colors,
numbers increased rapidly. With increased number, we decided and made
compulsory within ourselves that, none of the Bhutanese should be left
unpainted and spared.
 |
| Color Attack!!! |
Many surrendered and
sacrificed their pretty face, branded clothes and tidy rooms to our so-called
Holi celebration though either of us had any idea about the history behind the
Holi festival. Very few escaped it, as combined footsteps and a whisper of such
a big number was loud enough to warn them from far distance only. Although they managed to hide
themselves within the confine of four walls and the door latch, they hastily
left their things outside at our mercy and it felt prey to our random painting skills.
 |
| Tom & Jerry Color chase!! Catch me if you can???? |
Although the day started
with surprise color attack and Tom & Jerry like color chase, it ended well
with photograph & refreshment session followed by washing and laundry
session (lol) which i feel, might have definitely pleased Detergent companies.
After an awful color
fight day, I Googled to find out bit about history behind the very celebration
and here’s what history says:
As per the Hindu
calendar, Holi is celebrated on the Phalgun Purnima which comes in February or
March in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is looked upon as a triumph of
good over evil. One is expected to let go of negative emotions like jealousy, rivalry
and abhorrence and embrace all with love. The celebration lasts for two days
and on the first day of the festival bonfire is lighted that signifies burning
the evil and bad. This ritual is known as 'Holika dahan' According to the Holy
Scriptures of Hinduism, Holika was the sister of the demon King Hiranyakashipu.
Hiranyakashipu became arrogant and started defying God after receiving a boon
from them. The son of the king, Prahlada, however, was a devotee of Lord
Vishnu. The king took it as an insult and sentenced him to death. But all his
effort to kill Prahlada went in vain as he had the blessing of Vishnu. After
many failed attempts to kill Prahlada, Hiranyakashipu finally decided to burn
him and Holika, who had the boon that no fire could ever burn her, volunteered
to sit in the burning pyre with Prahlada on her lap. But to everyone's
astonishment fire consumed Holika instead. Since then on the day before Holi,
Holika is burnt to commemorate the incident.
Happy Holi!!!
