The True Significance of Holi: Festival of Colours or Water or Fire?

As we near an Indian festival, we are inundated with cautions ranging from safety to usage of resources such as water, fire, sound, etc. Then there are retaliations from the other side who feel they are being victimized. If we understood the true objective of all our Festivals, we could celebrate mindfully, joyfully, scientifically, harmoniously and all aligned together – with the right purpose. So, what is, or are the right purpose/s?

In traditional Vedic culture, festivals were primarily meant to bring humans closer to humanity; and humanity closer to divinity; they served as occasions for people to put aside their worldly preoccupations and focus on the divine and glorious deeds, as connected with the specific days of the festivals. The mode of celebration too was fully scientific, which were embellished through elaborate rituals.

Festivals of Bhaarat do not belong to any particular faith or region or sect. For, the festival is celebrated by all faiths - as everybody like to be a part of such joyous celebrations. That there is a science behind each of them makes the celebration meaningful, safe and even healthy. But why fire and colours in this festival?

The symbolism of and Lessons from Fire

Who doesn’t know the Legend of Holika and Prahlad: Tens of thousands of years ago, there lived an Asura king called Hiranyakashyap. An egoistic king, he ruled over the earth and wanted everyone to worship him, not any other god. He killed anyone, who praised or worshipped Lord Vishnu. Oh, what a twist of fate, for his own son Prahlad turned out an ardent devotee of Sri Vishnu. Prahlad was a virtuous boy who spent his days in the worship of Lord Vishnu much to the displeasure of his father. Hiranyakashyap, at first, tried to ‘reform’ Prahlad but when that failed, he decided to kill him. He made several attempts on his son’s life but each time, divine providence saved the boy. An exasperated Hiranyakashyap finally sought the help of his sister Holika. He wanted her to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. Holika had received a boon that made her immune to fire. An Asuri herself, she loved neither Vishnu nor Prahlad. She coaxed the boy to sit in her lap and entered a blazing fire willingly. This time too, Vishnu saved Prahlad who had been chanting his name all the while, but Holika perished in the fire. She had forgotten that the boon would work only when she entered the fire alone – the boon was nullified now. What does this signify?

Fire is generated by fire. Fire is sustained by fire. Finally, fire is consumed by fire! Since attributes of fire are similar to those of the three facets of Divinity, the Trimurti – creation, sustenance and destruction – Agni is a symbol of the Supreme in all Indian rituals. Fire illumines itself. One sees fire in its own light, fire alone lights up the darkness; fire enables us to see all else. Prahlad signifies our godly, serving, selfless nature; Holika, the ungodly, exploitative, selfish tendency that covers our original nature. When gold is placed in fire, the impurities melt away and the purified gold emerges, shining brighter. Similarly, the purifying Holi bonfire signifies the burning away of our superficial, lower tendency and the re-emergence of our essential, higher nature. In other words, that which is inferior perishes, that which is pure - shines. Holi derives its name from Holika as also the burning of it. So, Holi is actually Holy...sacred.

The Symbolism of Colours

We are told that the child Krishna was not all that happy with his dark complexion especially since Radha, the object of his admiration, was very fair. So, he would often ask his foster mother Yashoda why he was so dark. Yashoda, tired of hearing this complaint, one day told him that he could smear Radha’s face with whatever colors he liked. Krishna did so, and the two became a pair. Radha absolutely loved his playful gesture and threw colors over him as well. Soon, her friends (they are called gopis) joined the celebration. They spent the entire day playing with colors. The coloured powder - or gulal - thrown during the festival comes from the legend of Krishna. What does all this mean? The four main powder colours are used to represent different things.

The Science of Movement and Colours

Red reflects love and fertility, blue is the colour of Krishna, yellow is the colour of turmeric and green symbolises spring and new beginnings. The powder also signifies the coming of spring and all the new colours it brings to nature. Historically, the gulal was made of turmeric, paste and flower extracts, but today synthetic versions are largely used. Since season changes from winter to summer during this period, most of the people feel tardiness and laziness. Hence, the culture of playing songs with Dhol, Manjira, and other traditional instruments. The merry environment demands a lot of physical movement and helps in reinvigorating the human body during the time.

Natural colours used in Holi keep the body fit – We know from science now if there is any kind of deficiency of colour, it can cause ailment. To cure it, food or medicine containing that colour element is provided by Vaidyas and Ayurvedic doctors. Ingenuous to have a celebration of colours, isn’t it?

The Science of Fire:

When Holika is burnt, the temperature in the surrounding rises to 50/60 degree Celsius. The heat during Holika Dahan (the components of fire are also prescribed in the Ved) kills harmful microorganisms on one’s body. It’s the festival that lies between the end of spring and start of summer. During this transition, bacteria multiply in the atmosphere, as well as in our body. Holi is celebrated with a bonfire the night before the day, and people take a round (parikrama) around the fire. The remaining ashes of the bonfire or the Holika Dahan (burning of Holika) are swiped across the forehead in some parts of India – ashes represent detachment. People in these parts also mix it with Chandan (paste of sandalwood), young leaves and flowers of Mango tree. It’s a small measure to promote good health and thus the heat emanating from the Holika fire is actually recommended.

So where does water come in? Water is merely a modern additive and coolant and not a prescribed part of the festivities!

Aapko aur aapke parivar ko Holi ki dher saari Shubhkaamnayein!

Chiranjeev G