Wednesday 27 March 2013

Colours of Holi

I was born in spring season ,the season of colours ,beautiful flowers all around n lovely coloured trees with new n tender leaves .Colours do fascinate me ,  I believe Holi is celebration of  the colours of nature n colours of life . It is generally a loud n boisterous festival  , I love the zest n enthusiasm of people but I have always liked to be a distant spectator only . Beauty of India is that every celebration finds expression n manifestation of joy in various forms n u can choose the one of ur liking .
Just like the diversity in every aspect of life in India , we find a wide variety in the ways n forms this festival is celebrated in various parts of india  . While in Delhi ,once we went to see Holi Celebration thru Kathak Dance organised  at the Famous  Kathak dancer Birju Maharaj's Dance Academy .It was a three hour breath-taking classical experience depicting Krishan-Radha  with Gopis involving about 200 students playing Holi with Gulal , flowers n  saffron - water with soulful  semi- classical,classical  folk music of Braj,Barsane n Mathura in the back round .
One of the most memorable form of Holi  we enjoyed has been the one  our close friends' from western  U.P. taught us . The couple would prepare sumptuous Dahi- Bhallas n very tasty Gujias a week in advance n every day they would bring some for one group of colleagues ; n this way by the time Holi arrived all the staff-members   would have had the feast of their love thru these items.On the Holi day they would visit all friends' residences playing  Holi with Gulal . In the evening we would be invited to their place to enjoy more  delicasies prepared at home by them .It was ,indeed, their love that connected everyone ,no one would ever forget their loving way to celebrate the festival.And they taught us that of all the colours ,the colour of love is the most beautiful .

Today at this age n stage ,most of us rarely go out for celebration.We just sit at home n keep playing remote to see if there  is anything worthwhile watching on T.V. so that we may participate at least passively to get the feel of the day . Seriously, there is nothing on the commercial channels to enjoy -all noisy, superficial n insipid stuff; but thankfully at times Doordarshan ,D.D. Bharti ,Loksabha n RSTV do bring some good programmes -litrary,cultural n classical to nourish ur taste buds .

We were lucky to get to enjoy today a Classical Holi  on RSTV under' Guftgu'  with Padam Vibhushan Pandit Channu Lal ji from Varanasi.He sang about Lord Shiva's unique  Holi besides other beautiful renderings.This was followed by melodious folk singing by Malini Awasthi. It was, indeed, very uplifting n fulfilling to hear  melodious , soothing n interesting compositions .
This made our day.
Happy Holi To all. May ur life be immersed in the beautiful  colours of  love ,peace n happiness.