Growing up as an international student in a country as ethnically diverse as Singapore, I have always been used to celebrating cultural and religious festivals which are not my own. From the Spring Lantern Festival to Deepavali, each of them have their own own history, origin and significance. My experience celebrating such festivals during my time living in Singapore encapsulated something important: that all these festivals brought people together from all walks of life. One festival I fondly remember celebrating is Holi, otherwise known as the festival of colours.
From splashing colours on each other to feeding your family and friends gujiyas (sweet pies), the festival of Holi has been celebrated in the Indian subcontinent for centuries. It marks the beginning of spring and the end of winter, with celebrations starting on the evening of Purnima (full moon day) in the Hindu calendar. This usually takes place in March, and this year’s national holiday falls on Sunday the 28th of March and ends on Monday the 29th of March.
On the eve of Holi, large pyres are lit and people perform rituals in front of a bonfire to signify the burning of evil spirits. Known as the Holika Dahan, its roots lie in the Hindu legend of Holika, a female demon and the sister of the demon, king Hiranyakashipu. Although there are varying accounts of the origins of Holi mentioned in several works of ancient Indian literature, there is one popular version of the story. According to this one, king Hiranyakashipu was an arrogant, evil king who forced everyone to worship him as their God. He had forced everyone to worship him- except his own son Prahlada who remained devoted to Lord Vishnu. King Hiranyakashipu was infuriated by this and subjected his son to cruel punishments. Prahlahda’s aunt, Holika, tricked him into sitting on a pyre with her. While Holika protected herself with a cloak, Prahlada remained exposed and as the fire blazed, the cloak flew from Holika's body and encased Prahlada, saving his life. Meanwhile, Lord Vishnu appeared in the Narasimha avatar–half lion-half human, at dusk, took the king by the doorstep, placed him on his lap and killed him with his lion claws. The Holika fire is burned to celebrate the symbolic victory of good over evil which is why Holi beings with the Holika bonfire.
On the day of Holi, entire towns turn red, green, yellow, and blue, as people throw coloured powder into the air and splash them onto each other with water using water guns and water balloons. The beautiful colours of Holi which stain streets, clothes, and faces is believed to originate from the mythological love story of 2 Hindu deities: Radha and Krishna. Krishna is a major deity in Hinduism, and Radha is one of his consorts who is worshipped as the Hindu goddess of love, tenderness, compassion and devotion. It is believed that Krishna complained to his mother about the colour of his complexion and Radha’s fairness. To ease her son’s sadness, his mother suggested he go and colour Radha’s face. It is believed that this is where the playful custom of smearing loved ones with colour during Holi came from. When I read this story I noticed undertones of anti-colourism through the use of coloured power to eliminate the difference of skin colour Krishna felt between him and Radha. In a country where fair complexions has been considered superior for centuries, this particular story of a sense of acceptance reinforces, for me, how the festival brings together people from different backgrounds- regardless of their skin colour, caste, or gender.
Different regions in India observe varied customs on this day. For example, a popular form of Holi, called Lathmar Holi is celebrated in Barsana, a town in Uttar Pradesh, where women beat up men with sticks, as those on the sidelines chant ‘Sri Radhey’ or ‘Sri Krishna’.
Although the customs and rituals may differ across regions, what unites them is the celebration of a new spring, the spirit of colour, and most of all spreading happiness and love. Last year, the festival in India proceeded quite normally as it was celebrated two weeks before India entered its first lockdown. This year however, celebrations during Holi are looking unlikely as the country has experienced a second surge in COVID-19 cases. Nonetheless, I’m sure that individuals and their families will continue to keep the spirit of Holi alive through celebrations within their homes.
For a list of guidelines on how to keep safe from COVID-19 during Holi celebrations you can read this article published on India Today.
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Fourth Floor is a West London based collective dissecting the world and promoting young creatives across the globe.