Tender green leaves on trees, flowers in blossom, sweet calls of birds welcomed us at the Brindavan retreat. Holi is indeed the harbinger of spring. As we traversed through the kunj gallis of the town, we were caught off-guard with colors poured from atop houses, bursting water-filled balloons and long pistons squirting coloured water! Later at a gathering of eco-conscious Holi revellers, we were strewn with organic colours extracted from flowers and seasonal herbs that left us fragrantly refreshed.
Raas Lila theater on the oldest platform of Vraja.
It was enthralling to watch an internationally reputed theatre group perform Raas Lila of Radha-Krishna spread over three days. From Brij Vandana to Mayur Nritya, the spectacular movements of dancers brought forth various rasas and dramatic flavours like friendship, conjugal love, parental love, amazement, compassion, humour, chivalry, fury and fear et al. Gopis led by Radha re-enacted Lathmar Holi with Danda, colours and flowers. They struck men hard with dandas whilst Krishna and Gopas were on the run to escape! It all eventually climaxed in “Phoolon Ki Holi” when the divine duo is drenched in several quintals of flower petals.
Huge bonfires at night seen everywhere, ashes from which form the source for vibhuti powder, symbolically pure, freed from the negativity of demoness Holika! Some distance away in a village, large numbers gather to watch a local priest, jump into a 20’ high X 20” wide bonfire and walk out of it unscathed. The scale is truly gigantic in comparison with தீமிதி – firewalk on embers. The village is keeping alive this tradition that goes back five centuries. For forty days preceding the event, the priest has to remain at the local Prahlad temple in intense penance and meditation preparing for this task. It is a test of faith and no easy cake walk.
Very few festivals in India are celebrated with as much gusto and verve like Holi.
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