[janeloveslifenow]

(I posted this on GHMB, but thought it would be fun to share it here as well. It is impossible to describe Holi in words, and thus pictures are liberally used in this post.)





One of the least known and less understood festivals from the subcontinent is Holi. Almost a billion people, 1/6th of the earth's population, celebrate it every year yet few outside their communities ever hear about it. It's scary to those who do not understand it. Because a billion people have the license to go... a little mad... on this day. Religion does not matter on this day -- Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, Shintos, Taoists, and Shamans all dance together and celebrate Spring, and all embrace all.





Holi is a festival to welcome Spring. No one knows the origins of this festival, although theories abound. It is called a Hindu festival, although in reality it predates Hinduism as we know it today. Even the Mahabharata describes how Krishna and his consort Radha (who was technically his aunt) celebrated Holi with their friends in wild and uninhibited ways.





Frankly, there is no way to describe Holi or understand it from an intellectual viewpoint without ever participating in it. The reactions of newcomers exposed to it for the first time range from utter astonishment to complete horror.





The festival welcomes Spring and the sudden sprouting of color on earth after the long drab winter by having one day dedicated when you can throw colored powder or water on others, by "becoming an embodiment of the earth." People become mirrors of nature, actively drawing the love of others and the earth unto themselves.





Class and economic barriers disappear. A poor man, on this day, has the social license to walk up to a rich man on the street and daub him from head to toe in wild colors, regardless of whether he wears a starched suit or casual slacks. As does the division between young and old, as all folks go out and participate in the ritual madness of throwing color and receiving it.





And just as the onset of Spring indicates the beginning of the planting season, the melting of the ice-capped mountains and abundant water and fish in the rivers, the return of wild game, Holi parties are full of food, drink, and the madness of literally painting the town red.





No, this is not a few people having a few parties. This is a countrywide party. Business stops. Music plays. There are no religious prayers or churches or temples at play. Instead, folks, both adults and children, get up early in the morning to mix their carefully prepared colored water and powders, before beginning their long day of going out and throwing colors on complete strangers. It is perfectly okay to stand on your balcony with buckets of colored water and dunk unsuspecting strangers, or throw water-balloons on passers-by.








In modern Holi, scotch and beer flow freely. Teenagers are allowed this one day to taste "Bhang", a traditional brew made with marijuana. Food, street-food and snacks are prepared the night before and shared with strangers the next day.





I had the pleasure of introducing a Nigerian exchange student (a friend) to this ritual. He was 6'5" tall and built like a tank, prolly 300 lbs in weight. Once he saw the madness through his window, he was so afraid that he locked his door and told us to go away or he would defend himself with weapons. I told him to put on his oldest, worst clothes, and come out. He did. His primeval spiritual clock and instincts quickly reset themselves after being dunked a few times with colored water and getting colors rubbed on his face by hot women, and he experienced the spirit for the first time. He began to jump up and down, and could not stop, shaking the building to its foundations, while singing wild African tribal songs at the top of his voice.


Street music on Holi:




When I was younger and living on Bombay, we would pack the Jeeps with food, drinks, and colors and drive to the beach. We would celebrate Holi in the wild sunshine by the blue sea, dying the white beach in colors with our laughter and madness. Then we would all run into the Arabian Sea to wash off. Then run back out and begin all over again... we would not stop... when it got dark, we made bonfires... when the sky lightened and the sun kissed the sky over the mountaintops, we woke up with our toes wriggling their signatures in the sand...

Needless to say, more married couples say they "met" for the first time on Holi than any other day.

So if you have a chance, go out and experience Holi with someone you know. It is undoubtedly crazy, nuts, pagan, non-christian, primeval, pantheistic, and tribal. It has survived for at least 5,000 years. And you might learn something about yourself.




Experience a spiritual communal catharsis. Experience the Spirit.

Deep

[orapope]

Deep..

All I can say is WoW! WoW! WoW!...what a great idea to just let all your inhibitions go for the day!

I once had a paint daubing match with my eldest grandson Aiden in our back garden when he was about 3 yrs old. We fell about laughing afterwards and he was laughing & giggling with delight & so was I. If that is just a microcosm of the feeling that this festival generates, I think it should be spread worldwide! What a great way to celebrate Spring. I LOVE it! Thanks for sharing this.


Cass x

[Wluwsdtn]

Wonderful, what a joyous post, If only we could be as children playing ALL the time. Spring, can't wait got loads of people i'd love to chuck paint on,(wonder if the police will let me off cus it's a religeous festival?!)

[uncoodync]

I love this ... thank you Deep!

I did once take part in a Holi celebration on the Spring equinox, but it was in Malaga, Spain, in the mid-Seventies. My experience of it was as of an initiation. Afterwards, I was exhausted but quietly joyful because I felt cleansed on the inside.

[Switiespils]

Ah, spring!!!

[tropicana]

Ah, spring!!!

It can't come soon enough for me, kbs...I just love to see everything waking up from it's Winter sleep.


Cass x