Sejal Goyal

Holi is just around the corner and people are filled with excitement and enthusiasm to play. Dwelling into the history, it is the Hindu festival which welcomes spring or phalgun  after winter.  

According to Bhagvata Purana , Hiranyakashyap- the king of demonic Asuras had a boon that he could never be killed by a human or animal. He grew arrogant and wanted that everyone should worship him but his son Prahlad decided to be the devotee of Lord Vishnu. In order punish him, his father tricked him by making him sit with his sister, Holika on the pyre. Holika wore a cloak which to protect herself from fire but it encased Prahlad in fire .Hence saving him.  Later lord Vishnu appread as Narsimha, half man & half lion and killed the king. That is why holi begins with Holika bonfire.

Well, this was all about rituals that are followed are followed, which are actually fun. But then comes the next day, the d-day and the scariest day for me. Yes, you guessed it right, “the holi day” when all your friends and family would even find you from hell to color you after which you’d fail to recognize yourself.

I’m sure that I am not the only one who dislikes being colored on holi. It is a messy and filthy festival where people take ‘bura na mano holi hai’ way too seriously. It is hard to see yourself covered with toxic color and water being splashed on.

I remember an incident happened a week before. It was our break and we were sitting outside the department. A water balloon splashed right behind us and I was saved just by an inch. Though my bag got wet but I was saved. It made me think that what if it had landed on my head? It was thrown from sixth floor, after applying the science it was concluded that I’d have been badly hurt.  Well not only this children start throwing water balloons and colors on passerby which is really not done.

The teenagers and “grownups” consume bhang and roam around the town the town on their bullet bikes with ‘pakka rang’ and tease people especially girls which makes really unsafe for them to play holi outside home

Real struggle begins after playing holi when you have to take that color off. It is legit hard task to get rid off that color no matter how natural or organic it is. You’d spend hours in shower and trying different kind of soaps and shampoo but still end up with colored clown face. Hehe. I still remember when I was in school we used to have final exams during holi and it was fun to see people colored differently.

Well, in 2018 after I left home for studies I do wait for festivals just for bunch for holidays when I could revisit home and spend time with family and eat good food. During childhood, I used to be eager for the festivals when all family would get together and get to eat sweets, but now festivals are meant for holiday package where you could go home.

Now that you know Corona virus had already killed thousand in China and now has entered India too. Though most of the import from China is stopped but still holi colors are might still be import from China. So safety comes first, and this time say no to holi colors. You can try holi with Flowers( prevalent in Vrindavan). Do a get together and have meal together. Try donating clothes and sweets to poor or in an orphanage. But be safe and try to avoid any kind of chemical colors and save water.