Thursday 13 March 2014

horrific holi to holistic holi celebrations



What does Holi mean for most women in cities and towns? That time of the year, when balloons will be hurled at them from balconies and terraces, not only when they are walking on the road but also when they are travelling by local train or rickshaws. Any woman is easy prey.
Thousands of gallons of water is wasted in urban housing societies, in this ‘balloon hurling-water wasting’ activity that starts almost 10 days before Holi, under the ‘watchful and guiding’ eyes of parents, especially mothers. Then there will be kids running around with a plastic AK47 and squirt all kinds of coloured water on unsuspecting passerby, more often than not, young girls and women. Who bought these gun pichkaris for them? No prizes for guessing!
And then as the day of Holi nears you hear the chant- Bura Na Mano Holi  Hai. Really? Does anything go in the name of Holi ? Hold a girl against her will? Then as she struggles put colour on her face and hair? And also take the opportunity while she is struggling to grope her? And then just chant- Bura Na Mano Holi  Hai? Disgusting. And this is glorified in our movies, our television serials and in our housing societies. And then we light candles and go on marches for women safety.

Orebhai fagun legechche bone bone’
Rabindranath Tagore penned this which translates as- ‘Oh see brothers fhagun has coloured the forests’ Holi  is a reminder to farmers that the earth will soon be ready for tilling. Birds collect twigs to build nests, and people celebrate the season of hope launched by Holi . The festival of joy- of singing together and dancing to express happiness as mother earth wraps herself in fresh colours. Where is all of this in today’s Holi  celebrations? Why do we and our children not celebrate Holi  in the magic form as given above? When did Holi, the festival of joy turn into this? Why are we not doing something about it?

Anthropologically the symbolic burning of the Holika—with which the festival begins—is perceived as the end of all the bad things of the past, and people look forward to renewal and good tidings. This Holi  lets begin a new chapter, let’s change the way Holi  is celebrated and then imitated by our young children. Lets  maximize joy while protecting culture, harnessing nature and upholding safety especially of women and young girls.
1.    Play with dry, organic colours.
2.    Ban the slogan, Bura Na Mano Holi  Hai.
3.    Teach children to ask others before playing with them.
4.    Teach young children not to allow others to touch them if they don’t want to play. Remember it is during Holi  that kids will get groped, molested and abused.
5.    Teach children and young girls that allow only known friends to put dry colour on your cheeks and nowhere else.
6.    Please do not support balloon throwing in your society and home. Save water.
7.    Do not buy gun shaped pichkari for your child, what value are you instilling in your child with a gun pointed at others, even if it is a water filled gun?
8.    Think of Holi  as the end of bad and beginning of new, so think of all your bad habits and write them on a piece of paper and tear it up.
9.    Sing, dance and enjoy the company of friends with jalebi. You don’t require the wastage of water to enjoy this festival. Our villages have drought, be sensitive.
10. Women and girls should object to songs like rang barse, kitna maaza aa raha hai etc that make the festival look like it is all about boys colouring the girl to make her dreams come true. Come on women, stand up.

So   this Holi  lets move from horrific Holi  celebrations to Holistic fhagun celebrations. Happy Holi . And make your new slogan- Play Holi  With Me Only If I Want To. – Bura Na Mano, Mujhe Nahi Khelna Holi !
Check out this video and pass it on-  


22 comments:

Unknown said...

Since Holi is the major festival of India which is celebrated in all four corners or across the globe.Society forgets to make positive use of this fun and frolic where Holi word draws a smile and enthu among people and they welcome for the arrival of spring which is of joy and hope .
Where you have explained that symbolic burning of Holika - is to end up with all bad things of past and to look forward for the renewal and goodies .
The word Bura Mat Mano Holi Hai really should be ban where people who use this phrase thinks that it is helping to connect grow with socialisation and in which they can do anything what they wish which sometimes may hurt the feelings unknowingly.When burning of Holika is done by destroying natural calamities. People throwing ballons on others just to make themself entertain or happy is wrong . So we should take care that festivals are for us to celebrate in a correct way where every festivals has its own message and the same is been taught to children who will be the future of the country .

Unknown said...

Amazn article..

Unknown said...

Thank you very much Ma'am for such a wonderful article and new slogan for Holi. I will pass your message to our Parents.

Unknown said...

Thank you very much Ma'am for such a wonderful article and new slogan for holi. I ll pass your message to our Parents.

Sonali Karmakar said...

Thank you Swati ma'am on behalf of PJK Plus Vile Parle team for giving such a sensible message. Very rightly said ma'am - Play holi with me only if I want to, this should be the slogan not only for young girls but for everyone including children. There should be no force in playing holi at any cost and if we don't start protesting it even now it will go on. So this holi let's think of holi as the end of bad and beginning of new. Happy and safe holi in advance to you and entire Podar family including our parents and all our children too.

Sonali Karmakar said...

Thank you Swati ma'am on behalf of PJK Plus Vile Parle team for giving such a sensible message. Very rightly said ma'am - Play holi with me only if I want to, this should be the slogan not only for young girls but for everyone including children. There should be no force in playing holi at any cost and if we don't start protesting it even now it will go on. So this holi let's think of holi as the end of bad and beginning of new. Happy and safe holi in advance to you and entire Podar family including our parents and all our children too.

Unknown said...

I Ms.Tanvi Mody teacher of PJK Plus Vile Parle like to thank you for sharing a new way of celebrating holi with a new slogan.

Unknown said...

I Ms. Ramola Menezes thank you ma'am for sharing this article with us. You truly showed us the real meaning of Holi and how it should be celebrated. Happy Holi to you ma'am.

Unknown said...

I Ms. Khushboo Rach teacher of PJK Plus Vile Parle would like to thank you for sharing this wonderful and amazing blog where a new slogan for celebrating holi has been mentioned which should be taken into consideration by all and happy holi to all the parents and children in advance, play safe!!!

Unknown said...

I Ms. Kalpita Bhirud teacher of PJK Plus VileParle thank you for making us know the real way of celebrating the festival of colours Holi. It is such a unique, simple and safe way with an appealing and positive slogan.

Unknown said...

I Ms .Leela Chamaria teacher of PJK Plus Vile Parle thank you for guiding us the true slogan and safe way to play holi.Happy holi to one and all.

Unknown said...

I Ms. Poonam Borade teacher of PJK Plus Vileparle. Thank you ma'am for sharing such an unique blog, with a message of the way holi should be celebrated in simple and safe manner.
Holi is festival of colours. Holika indicates end of bad things and the beginning of new.
We should teach all our kids the simple way of playing holi,without hurting anyone and wasting water. Happy holi.

kamal said...

Very informative article - "Horrific Holi to Holistic Holi celebration".
As parents, teachers and adults which give us the informative about what exactly is Holi and its signifance

kamal said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Good information to know and right to the point. Thanks for this well written post, i'll follow up for more updates if you keep posting themSmaat India Pvt Ltd

Unknown said...

"Horrific Holi to Holistic Holi celebration". a wonderful article putting light on the positive side,significance and essence of the festival. Importance of saving resources- water less holi, being careful and sensitive towards others.
The video is also just apt and need of the hour where respect of women and their dignity and approval should be respected.
Thank You Dr.Vats for sharing such wonderful views and articles.

Prutha Kamdar said...

A very good message for people. The true essence of the festival is here!
Thank you ma'am for sharing this.

Ms. Prutha Doshi
PJK Rajkot

Farida Lokhandwala said...

An article much appreciated...because it puts light on the plight of women and what they go through in the mask of a festival celebration. It's an article to be spread and even told to the many women around you to take strength from to take care of themselves.

An important message and guidance that can be spread in the community at large to understand the true essence of the holiday celebration for all stake holders- women, men, children and parents to educate their children on.

Thank you Dr Swati Popat Vats .

Farida Lokhandwala said...

An article much appreciated...because it puts light on the plight of women and what they go through in the mask of a festival celebration. It's an article to be spread and even told to the many women around you to take strength from to take care of themselves.

An important message and guidance that can be spread in the community at large to understand the true essence of the holiday celebration for all stake holders- women, men, children and parents to educate their children on.

Thank you Dr Swati Popat Vats .

Unknown said...

As a child I never used to play holi because I used to hate the idea of someone touching me applying color on my face.And your idea of banning the statement burn na mano holi is really good. A very helpful article!

bhavna said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bhavna said...

The thought of taking permission before touching someone is so basic and yet people take festivals etc as their right to go ahead and follow things in the name of tradition. Such articles if well understood and spread in our circle will surely bring about the change in the mindset and approach of people . I am happy I read this before Holi. Thank you ma'am. Regards, Bhavna