“UNHOLI” Thoughts

It’s a mad, mad world. There’s obviously no denying that. But, the other 364/365 days pale into insignificance when compared to Holi, the Hindu festival of colours.

 

The festival has its origins in Hindu mythology. Lord Krishna, a Hindu god, was rather dark, whereas his consort, Radha was very fair. Hence, the god suffered from an inferiority complex, and complained to his mother. The doting mother promptly applied some colour to Radha’s face, to mask her fairness.

 

(Incidentally, that seems to be the first recorded case of racial discrimination ever. And you thought it was a recent phenomenon, huh?)

 

Well, there is a whole plethora of other reasons, behind the celebration of Holi. If your’re really keen, you can read more by clicking here. (Although, if you ask me, one shouldn’t really need so many reasons for celebrating a festival. Just celebrate, duh!!)

 

In earlier times, it used to be a festival that involved the use of colours made from crushed flowers, tree barks, and other such stuff. However, it is a festival that has kept up with modern times. Human ingenuity has lent it an all-new flavour. Now, eggs, coal tar, mud, chemical colours, beer, soft drinks, ink, and what not is applied to others, in the name of ‘celebration.’

 

In fact, in parts of India, the celebrations are even more unique. The menfolk sing lewd songs, and the women drive them away by beating them up with sticks. The men attempt to shield themselves, and continue singing. (Wow, are the moral police who protest against Valentine’s Day aware of this?)

 

Plus, people partake of a drink called ‘bhaang’ made from the leaves of the cannabis plant.

 

The part of India that I’m in – XLRI, Jamshedpur, has an even more unique concept here. Apart from the usual rigmarole of mud baths, dunking people in colour, smearing them with whatever comes handy, getting drunk on ‘bhaang’, and dancing away, there was ahem… an added ‘feature’. Somehow, the ‘culture’ is to rip off the t-shirts of all the guys, and then colour us poor folks. Quite insane, if you ask me! (Actually, I think it’s quite insane, even if you don’t ask me.)

 

One of the most decent pics of the lot is posted here. Due to ahem… various considerations that one has to consider, the rest have been kept away from your eyes. However, imaginations often run wild, and you’re free to let yours loose as well.

 

I rather think that we look like a bunch of folks from the movie 300, minus the six-pack abs, or rather, plus some six-pack ‘flabs’.

 

What say?

 

Edit: On demand from Scriber, here’s a pic of the girls…