OH 10 Festival of Colours

The holi celebrations this year were started with "Holika Dehan" on 23rd March, 16. Holika Dahan is  the burning of Holika, the devil.

Dehan was outside society premises on an unused cross road. A wide platform of sand and soil was erected where the wooden logs were piled on the brick lining so that road is not spoilt.  It was well planned and people's participation made it vibrant and colourful. Women in colourful attires with pooja thalis brings festivity to its best.

Like many traditions in Hinduism, Holi celebrates the death of Holika in order to save Prahlad, and thus Holi gets its name. The story as a whole is testament to the power of devotion (bhakti) over the evil represented by King Hiranyakashyap, as Prahlad never lost his faith. 

On the eve of Holi, typically at or after sunset, the pyre is lit, signifying Holika Dahan. The ritual symbolises the victory of good over evil. People sing and dance around the fire. People also perform parikrama of fire.

On 24th March, young enthusiasts were down very early. All geared up with pitchkaris and colours. As the day gets warmer around 9.30am, people were streaming down to celebrate the festival of colours! 






Breakfast of vegetable bhajias and jalebis were laid down . It was fun! Little later, a lunch stall offering pao-bhaji, chole-bhature, vegetable pulao and samosas was set up. The food was good. Food and eatables served this year were an improvement over the last year's. I hope, we see further improvements next year too.

The wastage of water during the festivity when lakhs of people in the country are facing severe water shortage is criminal. I have seen some using the fire fighting hose and water was flowing just like that for more than ten minutes. Its okay, if one uses limited supply of water for fun , but it was sheer wastage and criminal.

Is it out of fashion to think about social accountability? 

Some people were seen throwing full plates of jalebis and bhajias  in the dustbin. The servings were free and self serving. Why should one throw food? With so many people dying of hunger in the world, it's sheer immoral to throw away eatables. 

The worst was the misuse of swimming pool. It's only in our society, where people have spoilt the swimming pool. None in the neighbouring society "Greenfield" and few other nearby societies in South Bopal have used their swimming pool for holi. 

Why in OH people have acted in this way? 
Is it because there were some suggestions issued by some residents of the society to save the infrastructure of common use? 
Is it because the residents do not feel the ownership? 
Is it because the residents are not proud of their premises? 

All of us must ponder over these.

We all need to think about it and find answers to improve the social behaviour and civic sense.