Holi is a festival of love, colours and spring ― all rolled into one. But, I believe the most important aspect of Holi is love, because only when there is love in our hearts and around, can we truly appreciate the joys of spring and the beauty of colours, says OSWALD PEREIRA
While Holi is celebrated with a riot of colours, fun and frolic, the real significance of the festival is in its sublime messages of love, forgiveness and the triumph of good over evil.
The festival is a time for looking within to seek Divinity by cleansing ourselves of all negativity, including hatred and anger. Although popularly called a Hindu festival, during Holi celebrations, it doesn’t matter what religion you belong to.
People of all religions are known to immerse themselves in the joyous advent of spring, which is the secular aspect of Holi. Spring is a season for all and it obviously has no creed tagged to it.
Significantly, during the Mughal rule in India, Holi was celebrated with great gusto with the emperor himself participating in the celebrations, when he broke down all barriers of royalty and gave people the liberty to smear him with colour.
There are several paintings of Mughal emperors celebrating Holi, with the festival also known as Eid-e-gulaabi or Aab-e-Pashi. Bahadur Shah Zafar himself wrote a song for the festival, while poets such as Amir Khusrau, Ibrahim Raskhan, Nazeer Akbarabadi and Mehjoor Lakhnavi eulogised Holi in their writings.
The festival celebrates the eternal and divine love of Radha-Krishna. We as a nation would all do well to take a cue from their sublime relationship and live together in love and harmony.
Holi celebrations also bring with it a spirit of mending broken relationships and forgiving each other for any harm we may have done to each other, knowingly or unknowingly.
Holi also signifies the triumph of good over evil ― celebrating the victory of Lord Vishnu as Narasimha Narayana over Hiranyakashipu, the king of the demonic Asuras.
On the night before Holi, a bonfire is lit and rituals are performed in front of it, praying that evil be banished. The prayers are more for banishment of evil from within ourselves. It is only when we banish evil within ourselves, will we be capable of loving others.
Love is complete only when it is unconditional, with no strings attached, without any ulterior motives or expectations of anything in return ― the way God loves us all, irrespective of race, religion, gender, caste, creed, nation or region.
Holi is a festival of love, colours and spring ― all rolled into one. But, I believe the most important aspect of Holi is love, because only when there is love in our hearts and around, can we truly appreciate the joys of spring and the beauty of colours.
Oswald Pereira, a senior journalist, has also written eight books, including The Newsroom Mafia, Chaddi Buddies, The Krishna-Christ Connexion, How to Create Miracles in Our Daily Life and Crime Patrol: The Most Thrilling Stories. Oswald is a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, and practises Kriya Yoga.
More Stories by Oswald Pereira
Featured image courtesy: Al Jazeera
Indeed, love is the wonder glue which binds the whole universe together.
Love is the magical colour with many a hues, that fills everyone with cheer.
And Holi is the festivity of that bond of amity which transcends all man made boundaries and binds the entire humanity in one common thread of love. What an opportune time is Spring indeed, when the climate is so convivial & spirit is so buoyant to celebrate Holi, the dance of Joy in a fresh bout of love!
HaPpY Holi All 😍😂😍🤣
Baturamji, you have articulated the love aspect of Holi so well and so elaborately.
Thank you so much.
Happy Holi to you, family, friends and the universe.