Powder rainbows glow as Indians celebrate Holi
Published:Friday | March 25, 2022 | 12:12 AMPaul H. Williams/Gleaner Writer
As much as Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams tried not to get her ankle-length, milk-white dress soiled, it and her head were eventually sprinkled and splattered with green powder.
And as the afternoon progressed, some other hues were added, for it was a day to be smeared with all the colours of the rainbow on the grounds of India House at 2 East King’s House Road. Minister Williams and other dignitaries were present to help the Indian community observe Holi, an Indian festival of colours and India’s 75th year of Independence.
In speaking with The Gleaner about the significance of the event, Rungsung Masakui, Indian high commissioner to Jamaica, said it was generally a celebration of good over evil, which is a common theme of all the festivals. However, this time around, it was also “a celebration of life, of spring, of hope and optimism”.
“It could not come at a better time like this today in 2022, for we have suffered from the COVID pandemic,” Masakui remarked. “We hope 2022 will be a very good year. Everything will be well at the end of the year. This is the message today.” He said this was a good start to the year as the financial year starts in April.
HAPPY COINCIDENCE
Masakui said they were anticipating the loosening up of the COVID-19 movement and gathering restrictions. “So it came as a happy coincidence for us. Everyone was looking forward to this colour festival because two years have been very bad for us.”
Holi was held two days after the Disaster Risk Management Act that guided the Government’s COVID-19 policies, and protocols was suspended. Thus, in that respect, it was also a time to celebrate the lifting of the curfew, and gathering restrictions. For that, the high commissioner was happy as adherence to the law would have compromised the extent of the celebrations. The venue was not filled to capacity, bearing in mind that there are still some restrictions. “To respect and in deference” to the Government’s restrictions, many people were turned back.
Holi is the Hindu festival of colours to celebrate good over evil in every part of India. It is regarded as one of India’s most revered and celebrated festivals and is observed in almost every part of the country. It is also sometimes called the Festival of Love, as on this day people get to unite, forgetting hatred, bitterness and resentments, all negative emotions.
The festival lasts for a day and a night, which starts in the evening of Purnima or the Full Moon Day in the month of Falgun (March). It is celebrated with the name Holika Dahan or Choti Holi on the first evening of the festival, and the following day is called Holi. In different parts of the country, it is known by different names.