Happy Holi!

Today is the start of the Holi festival....the festival of colors. I love it for the sheer fun of playing with colors!

When I was little, I loved it even more as I could make some extra pocket money! In the state where my Parents hail from, the festival of Holi lasts for 5-6 days!. The festival starts with the burning of Holika....

Legend has it that King Hiranyakashyap wanted everyone to worship him but Prahlad his son was a devotee of Lord Narayanan. So the King told his sister Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad on her lap as she had a boon whereby fire could not harm her. However the boon worked if she was alone and she was not aware of this and so burnt to death when she entered with Prahlad while Prahlad was saved by the grace of God for his devotion. Thus the festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil.

Each locality makes elaborate straw huts and these are festooned with colorful paper flags. In the evening there would be a "puja" conducted by the Brahmin after which the Straw Hut would be torched and burned down....symbolic of Holika being burnt.....only after which the festival of Holi would be declared as started. Little children would go house to house asking for alms....and yes, money is given to those who come knocking! I too went from house to house in the neighborhood with my cousins, I remember. Dad had asked for a Home Posting and here he was as the Commanding Officer in his home state for a couple of years. In the next few days there would be groups of teenage girls or ladies coming and asking for donations as they would be hosting some street theater or dance or for any such things!

Later, I remember in the various Air Force Camps, we (all kids in the neighborhood) would gather twigs & newspapers and make a bonfire. The excitement of making a big fire was huge and we just loved it! The next day we would start by playing with dry colors but slowly would progress to the water colors....the pichkaris or water pistols would be used to drench each other and when all was finished simply pour water! Later we were joined by our Parents. We would go from house to house and then head for the final destination which was the Officer's Mess. There would be singing, dancing, tambola and finally lunch. Oh, what fun it used to be!

Today, as I recall.....those were the days....I really had a good memorable childhood!