| Life Becomes Art |  | | | | Kapil, from our packing team in India, gets covered in powder by his colleagues. | Picture the scene: vibrantly colored powder rains down from balconies above. Water balloons fly through the air. Revelers dance as drums play. Families come together, young and old. Differences in caste, creed, gender, religion all fall away. For the celebration of Holi, art and life converge in the most gorgeous display of color.
The story behind Holi is the classic triumph of good over evil. It is a legend of fire and faith, a family drama of epic proportions. Story has it that the ancient King Hiranyakashipu desperately wanted to be worshipped as a god. His son Prahlada refused, swearing his allegiance to Lord Vishnu. As punishment, the king asked his demoness sister, Holika, to lure his son into a fire, where she would be protected by a magic shawl. At the last minute, Lord Vishu intervened, blowing the shawl off Holika, who burned in the flames, and onto Prahlada, who survived on faith.
Today, the festival transcends its religious significance, inviting Hindus and non-Hindus into the celebration of color. It marks an end to the long, dark winter. It is a welcoming of spring. A time of love and hope.
For the Festival of Colors, everyday cares and worries momentarily fall away. For a finite period of time, one lives by a different motto: Bura na mano, Holi hai. “Don’t mind, it’s Holi!” | | | | | | |
