Could not help making a note of this less than colorful aspect of Holi as celebrated in our parts of the world. Holi gets hijacked by hooligans for an ugly purpose for weeks. It's shameful.
होलीको आचारसंहिता
जितेन्द्र साह
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http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnepalinews.php?&nid=102317
विपरीत लिङ्गीबीच एकअर्कालाई लोला हान्ने प्रतिस्पर्धाले फागु पूर्णिमाको आकर्षण बढाउनुको साटो घटाएको छ । समूहमा आबद्ध केटा होस् वा केटी एकले अर्काको संवेदनशील अंगमा लोला प्रहार गर्नुलाई अचुक निसाना र गर्वका रूपमा लिन्छन् ।
म बिहीबार बिहान कामविशेषले राजधानीको बाफलबाट सोल्टिमोड आउ“दै गर्दा गल्लीमा लुकेर बसेका एक हूल युवतीले वरिपरिबाट लोला हान्न थालेपछि निस्सासिएर भाग्न सकिन“ । उनीहरूले भुइ“मा नपछारिएसम्म धीत मरुन्जेल मलाई लोला हाने । उनीहरू भन्दै थिए- 'बडो हिरो भएर हि“ड्दो रहेछ, यी केटाहरूलाई यस्तै गर्नुपर्छ ।'
म थकित शरीर लिएर नया“ बानेश्वरस्थित कोठासम्म पुगेर नुहाइ-धुवाइ गरे“ । तर आक्रोशित युवतीको जोडदार प्रहारले अझै मेरो जीउ दुखिरहेको थियो । उनीहरूले मप्रति गरेको अप्रत्याशित व्यवहार विश्लेषण गर“े । मैले महसुस गरे“- पुरुषहरूले होलीको निहु“मा लोला हानेर वर्षौंदेखि गरिरहेको अन्यायविरुद्ध उनीहरूको व्रि्रोह थियो यो ।
मलाई लाग्यो, यो उत्ताउलो लोला संस्कृत्रि्रतिको व्रि्रोह थियो । आक्रमणको निसानामा म परे पनि यस घटनामार्फ उनीहरूले समस्त पुरुषलाई चेतावनी दिएको महसुस गरे“ । 'खबरदार † हामी समानताको युगमा प्रवेश गरिसकेका छौं र नारी भएकै कारणले चुप लागेर बस्दैनौं,' उनीहरूको सन्देश प्रस्ट देखियो ।
धेरै वर्षेखि युवतीहरू होलीको आगमनस“गै पुरुषको लोलाअस्त्रबाट प्रताडित छन् । होलीको समापन नहुन्जेल उनीहरू जीउ र ज्यान जोगाउ“दै बाटामा हि“ड्नर्ुपर्छ । तर अब उनीहरू जाग्न थालेका छन् । होलीको लोकतान्त्रिक महत्त्व यही हुनर्ुपर्छ । किशोरीहरू घरको छाना, गल्ली र टोलमा पुरुषस“ग बदला लिन तयार भएर बसेका छन् । त्यसैले मेरा प्रिय बालक, किशोर र युवा पुरुष साथीहरू † हामीले मनमा आक्रमण, प्रतिआक्रमण र बदलाको भाव नराखेर होली मनाउनर्ुपर्छ ।
अब होलीका निश्चित आचारसंहिता तोक्नर्ुपर्छ । त्यसको कडा पालना, अनुशरण र अनुगमन हुनर्ुपर्छ । होइन भने थुप्रै सोझा पुरुष र महिला लोला एवं रङ आक्रमणको सिकार हुन सक्छन् । होलीमा घरबाट निस्कनै नसक्ने अवस्थासमेत उत्पन्न हुन सक्छ ।
म होलीको राजधानी मानिने मोरङको पर्ूव सदरमुकाम रंगेलीमा जन्मेको हु“ । मेरो गाउ“को नाम नै रंगोली -विभिन्न रङको मिश्रण) बाट अपभ्रंश भएर रंगेली भएको हो । त्यहा“ महिना दिनअगावै होलीको गीत, संगीत र महोत्सव सुरु हुन्छ । सडकहरू सप्तरंगी भइरहेका हुन्छन् । गाउ“मा होली व्यग्रताले प्रतीक्षा गरिन्छ । त्यसको एउटै कारण हो, होलीको आचारसहिंता ।
यस आचारसहिंताअर्न्तर्गत परिवारजन, आफन्तजन, नातागोता, आमन्त्रित पाहुना, परिचित मित्र र आत्मीय सम्बन्ध भएका बीचमात्र रङ साटासाट हुन्छ । सडकमा हूलले ढोलक, मादल र सारंगी लिएर होली मनाए पनि एउटा अपरिचित समूहले अर्कोलाई रङ हाल्दैन । मान, मर्यादा र उमेरमा आफूभन्दा ज्येष्ठ महिला पुरुषलाई ढोगेर निधार एवं अनुहारमा अबिर लगाउनर्ुपर्छ ।
विभिन्न समूहमा विभाजित महिला र पुरुषहरू चिने-जानेका व्यक्तिको घरमै गएर होली खेल्छन् । आगन्तुक, पाहुना र कामविशेषले हि“डिरहेका व्यक्तिको अनुमति लिएरमात्र रङ वा अबिर दल्न पाइन्छ ।
पुरुषझैं महिलाहरू पनि हूल बनाई निर्धक्क एक टोलबाट अर्को टोलमा चिने जानेका साथीकहा“ पुगी होली खेल्छन् । तर बाटामा अन्य समूह भेटे पनि कुनै प्रकारको उच्छृङ्खल गतिविधि हु“दैन । एकअर्कालाई बधाई दिएर आफ्नो बाटो लाग्छन् । घनिष्ठ पारिवारिक सम्बन्ध भएका महिला-पुरुष एकअर्कालाई रङ लगाइदिन पाउ“छन् । धार्मिक, सामाजिक र सांस्कृतिक रूपले वसन्त ऋतुको आगमनस“गै मनाइने यस पर्वलाई यिनै आचारसहिंताले महत्त्वपर्ूण्ा र रमाइलो बनाएको हो ।
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Holi or Hutasani festival identified with Dol -Yatra or Rocking of the image of Krishna, is celebrated in Phalgun (March). It is said to be a commemoration of the killing of the demon Madhu by K'rsna. This festival is specially celebrated in Northern states, as a kind of Hindu Sutranalia or carnival and is a very popular festival. It commences about 10 days before the full moon of Phalgun (March), but is usually observed for the last three or four days, terminating with the full moon. Boys dance all over the streets and the residents sprinkle their friends, relatives and even passersby, with red or yellow powder (gulal). The whole atmosphere is very jovial and no one objects to the colour being thrown. Loud music, merriment, songs and midnight orgies are the rule. Elders, youngsters, children, women and girls, all join this festival. Groups go from house to house, offer gulal at the feet of the elders and smear red / yellow powder on the faces of the equals. Some rich elderly persons apply scent on all visitors. Towards the close of the festival, one day before the colour play, a bonfire is lighted and games representing the frolics of the young K'rsna, take place around embers. A light mood atmosphere prevails, along with practical jokes, caricature, and cartoons, as is not seen in any other festival.
In Hindu mythology, there have been two philosophical divisions:Dvaita and Advaita: Dvaita pertaining to gods and Advaita relating to demons. Among the demons Hiranyakasipu was a great demon chief. To avenge the death of his brother Hiranyaksha at the hands of the gods, Hiranyakasipu undertook severe austerities to obtain a boon from B'rhma to escape death. When B'rhma appeared before him. and enquired the reason for his intense tapas, he asked him," If you will confer on me, my desired blessings, 0' chief among the bestower of boons, let not my, death occur at the hands of living beings created by you"." 0' Lord, let there be no death to me indoors or outdoors, by day or night, from anyone or even through weapons, neither on earth nor in the air, by men or animals; nor should I meet my death at the hands of animate or inanimate beings, gods, demons or serpents".
B'rhma duly pleased granted his wish. Hiranyakasipu thought that he was very wise in getting such a boon from the creator himself, on account of which he would not die under any circumstances. But that was not to be. Little did he realize that his own son would prove to be the cause of his death.
Prahalad, his son,refused to accept that his father was the Lord of all creation. He tried his best to enlighten his father to take refuge in God, but to no avail. His father, out of ego, became furious and tried to eliminate his son by all possible means. But all attempts failed, because the Almighty saved his devotee Prahalad at every step.
During the period,when Hiranyakasipu, left his kingdom to perform tapas in the forest to obtain a boon from B'rhma; Indra, the king of Gods, tried to abduct Hiranyakasipu's wife Kayatu, who was expecting a child at that time. Sage Narada intervened and took Kayatu to her hermitage.
It was, during her stay in the sage's ashram, that Prahalad, even while in the womb of the mother, happened to listen to the glory of God, when Narada used to recite them to Kayatu, to keep her in good spirits. Thus the child Prahalad, even before he was born, had developed unflinching faith in God.
When Hiranyakasipu obtained the boon and returned, he tried all methods of destruction of Prahalad. He was advised that his sister Holika, has a boon that fire will not burn her and that Holika should sit in the burning fire holding Prahalad in the lap, by dint of which Prahalad would be burnt without any effect on Holika. Accordingly fire was arranged and Holika sat in the fire with Prahalad in her lap. Prahalad, because of divine bliss escaped without any scratch or burn, but Holika was burnt to ashes, because of the misuse of the boon bestowed on her.
Holi festival is celebrated in honour and respect of Prahalad, who had the divine vision, even in childhood. The fire is lit one day before the colourful play, to condemn the wicked participation of Holika.
Holi in Barsana, also known as Barsani, Brahmasanu or Brishbanpur is famous for special reasons. This town had been the capital of Brishbhanu, king and his queen Kirti. On the top of hillock recognized as the form of God B'rhma connected by upstairs is a fort like temple, where the Sakti of Sri K'rsna, Bhagwati Radha is seated. Holi festival (March) of this place is reputed, not because it is considered sacred, but because of the peculiarities that the women in this festival chase and beat men folk with sticks.
Holi in Nepal has become a new game of egoism between boys and girls. Yes, sexual appeal is there.
Pics by Bikash Karki
Words by DW
People of Nepal with Hindu religion celebrated Holi or the Fagu Purnima, the festival of color (and these days dirty water as well) with full enthusiasm. People in Kathmandu enjoyed the festival totally forgetting that Comrade Maoists are blocking them inside the valley from today. Yes there something historical background behind this festival but in the modern days, throwing colors and colored water has become a kind of “sex-war”, if I can use this term here, between the young folks. I could see boys and girls targeting the water-filled balloon each other.
The nasty thing about this is that girls are in the sufferers’ end. Boys start attacking them with balloons days ahead of the festival day. We saw that yesterday and the day before yesterday when newspapers in Kathmandu published boys harassing girls walking on the streets by throwing water and balloons on them.
Okay, given the chance, girls are also not very much different. They too mercilessly attack boys walking alone on the streets. We can hardly see boys attacking boys with balloons. That is why Holi is becoming a different kind of festival. “Look, look, look,” a colleague in my office was saying the other day pointing out small boys who were throwing balloons to girls of their age. “Even in this age, they know its about throwing balloons over girls.”
