President’s Message
Fellow Rotarians,
Very Warm Greetings!!!
Holi, the festival of colours, typically marks the full moon day of “Phagun”, the 12th month of the Hindu calendar. Underneath the colourful chaos and dancing lies a unique and deeply-rooted tradition of culture and mythology.
As per ancient Hindu Vedic scriptures, Holika was a demon, who was reduced to ashes with the help of Lord Vishnu. Holika Dahan (Holika’s death in the fire) signifies the triumph of good over evil. The Holika bonfire is ignited the night previous to Holi, giving way to a free-for-all carnival of colours and fun on the following day. The scientific reason is that fire kills the bacteria (which are on the rise during the transition period from winter to spring) in those performing ‘parikrama’ (circumambulation) around the fire.
Holi has different forms across India – a few that stand out as unique are: the Lathmar Holi Festival in Barsana where men with shields are beaten by women with bamboo sticks. During the celebration, the men attempt to fight the women off by sprinkling them with coloured chalk. And, there is Jaipur’s Holi Elephant Festival, featuring elaborately painted elephants, elephant polo, and tug of war.
Some people toast Holi with “bhaang” – a milky beverage mixed with a paste of the buds and leaves of cannabis, grown high in the Himalayas. Consumed for 3,000 years, this weed milkshake is supposed to connect through mythology to Lord Shiva.
Holi finds great significance in Bollywood movies, either adding to the plot or breaking the monotony of a serious line-up of events. Whatever it be, Holi probably does make the canvas colourful, and even sometimes becomes the highpoint of the movie with songs thrown in.
In the ’70s, a typical formula film had to have a Holi song and thanks to that, we have some good songs that capture the mood of this bright and bustling festival of colours, fun and celebration.
Bollywood buffs will always remember the song “Holi ke din” which came as a relief amid the high-octane dacoit drama of Sholay and Gabbar’s iconic dialogue “Holi kab hai”, which became the trademark of the festival and comic spoofs. Bollywood also gave us the iconic song “Rang barse” in Silsila.
“Aaj na chhodenge” from Kati Patang, of course, had a clear romantic angle but what came across as even more powerful was the love for fun and life.
Our senior citizens will recall, with nostalgia, famous Bollywood Holi songs of the past, such as “Holi aayi re Kanhai”, sung by Shamshad Begum in Mother India, “Jogira Holi khelat Nandlal” picturised on Mehmood and other co-artistes in Godaan and “Arrey ja re hat natkhat” picturised on Sandhya in Navrang.
In recent years, a good visible change that has been observed is the shunning of toxic colours and unsafe Holi practices to an eco-friendly and safe celebration.
May the colours of Holi make your life colourful and happy always and may we Rotarians continue to always reach out to others adding colours of joy, giving happiness.
Preeti Mehta
President