An Indian journey through Lent, Day 12
Today the Hindu festival of Holi has intruded into the Christian season of Lent. Manali has seen lots of westerners mingling with Indian tourists and locals. Some have been coloured green, bringing to mind St Patrick’s Day, which falls of course tomorrow. But many others have had many colours of paint splashed over them. They have been up to the shenanigans one gets involved in at Holi.
Though a Hindu festival Holi has become popular among people of other religious traditions in India and beyond. It celebrates a number of things - the end of winter and the onset of spring, love, colours and the triumph of good over evil - essentially by having gigantic, all in paint fights all over India, followed by renewing vows of friendship. The word “Holi” is derived from the name “Holika”, sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu. Both were killed in the course of their evil designs being thwarted.
My impressions of Holi were coloured (sic.) by unfortunate experiences several decades ago while travelling by train. However, Holi is a festive day to rid oneself of past errors, end conflicts by meeting others, a day to forget and forgive. People pay or forgive debts, as well as deal anew with those in their lives. psychologically, this way of making a new start sounds pretty good!
Today, mindful of my past experiences, in which I had a bottle of soft drink snatched from me by a drunken youth, was hit by a stone thrown from beside the moving train, and I saw the entire sides of trains plastered with mud in lieu of paint, I ventured out only once, in full rain jacket and pants, to purchase something. Perhaps next year, given the above information, I’ll be a little bolder!
Today the Hindu festival of Holi has intruded into the Christian season of Lent. Manali has seen lots of westerners mingling with Indian tourists and locals. Some have been coloured green, bringing to mind St Patrick’s Day, which falls of course tomorrow. But many others have had many colours of paint splashed over them. They have been up to the shenanigans one gets involved in at Holi.
Though a Hindu festival Holi has become popular among people of other religious traditions in India and beyond. It celebrates a number of things - the end of winter and the onset of spring, love, colours and the triumph of good over evil - essentially by having gigantic, all in paint fights all over India, followed by renewing vows of friendship. The word “Holi” is derived from the name “Holika”, sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu. Both were killed in the course of their evil designs being thwarted.
My impressions of Holi were coloured (sic.) by unfortunate experiences several decades ago while travelling by train. However, Holi is a festive day to rid oneself of past errors, end conflicts by meeting others, a day to forget and forgive. People pay or forgive debts, as well as deal anew with those in their lives. psychologically, this way of making a new start sounds pretty good!
Today, mindful of my past experiences, in which I had a bottle of soft drink snatched from me by a drunken youth, was hit by a stone thrown from beside the moving train, and I saw the entire sides of trains plastered with mud in lieu of paint, I ventured out only once, in full rain jacket and pants, to purchase something. Perhaps next year, given the above information, I’ll be a little bolder!
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