The fun of Holi used to be monotonous, colors were applied and Holi was done

Priyanka Saurabh *

There is a difference between the earlier Holi and today's Holi, a few years ago people used to be enthusiastic about the festival of Holi, and there was love among themselves. There was no hatred towards anyone. People used to play Holi with love and togetherness. Due to other means of entertainment, people's interest in traditional folk festivals has decreased. The reason for this is that people have less time.

There are only a few days left for Holi, but the colors of Holi are not visible anywhere in the city. Let alone a month away, now the fun of Holi has not lasted even for a day or two. This festival has been reduced to just half a day. Colors and gulal were applied and Holi was done. As traditions are changing, the sweetness of relationships is waning.

Holi is such a colorful festival, which people of every religion celebrate with full enthusiasm and fun. On the day of Holi, we forgot all the animosity and hugged each other. But Holi, the festival of social brotherhood and mutual love and harmony, is also now witnessing a phase of change. The fun scene of Falgun is now a thing of the past.

The colors of Holi, which have been fading for a few years, are now making us sad. The elders of the city say 'No laughter, no fuss, no colours, no dhap, and no bhang' Is Falgun like this? Neither 'kheli' filled with water nor the noise of Holi.

Now nothing, after a few hours of chaos everything is calm. He is no longer enjoying Holi. The sounds of Aao Radhe Khela Faag Holi Aayi...Get the copper and brass pot filled...Bring Sona Rupali Pichkari... have gradually slowed down.

The hustle and bustle of Holi started as soon as Phalgun started. Even in temples, 'Phaag' used to start as soon as Phalgun arrived. Holi folk songs echoed. As the evening approached, traditional dances on the songs of Phaag along with Dhap-Chang spread the colors of Holi at various places. While playing Holi, people were caught and thrown into water games. There was no resentment, everything happened happily.

Used to prepare for Holi from Vasant Panchami. Holi songs would echo along with the beat of change in the streets of the society and in the temples. The night was graced with dance to the beats of Chang. People singing Phalgun songs and Rasiya from outside used to dance in the night to celebrate Holi.

There is a difference between the earlier Holi and today's Holi, a few years ago people used to be enthusiastic about the festival of Holi, and there was love among themselves. There was no hatred towards anyone. People used to play Holi with love and togetherness. Due to other means of entertainment, people's interest in traditional folk festivals has decreased.

The reason for this is that people have less time. There are only a few days left for Holi, but the colors of Holi are not visible anywhere in the city. Let alone a month away, now the fun of Holi has not lasted even for a day or two. This festival has been reduced to just half a day. Colors and gulal were applied and Holi was done.

As traditions are changing, the sweetness of relationships is waning. As far as Holi is concerned, now ‘Happy Holi’ starts and ends on mobile and internet only. Now there is no longer that joy as before.

Earlier, children used to form groups and create ruckus in the streets. Just 10-12 days before Holi, there was a different kind of love seen in the hooliganism of Holi with friends collecting donations for Holi in every street and throwing colors on someone without asking. During this time, people used to laugh at him even when he abused him. Now people start fighting.

Earlier, people considered the daughters-in-law of strangers to be exactly like their own. Dishes were prepared in homes throughout the day and guests were welcomed. Now everything is confined to homes only. Nowadays, it seems as if there is no room left for reconciliation in relationships. If I felt like it, I formally bid adieu by saying Happy Holi over the phone. Now there is no sweetness left in relationships.

This is the reason why people do not allow their daughters-in-law to go to any acquaintance's place. Earlier, the girls of the house used to go to everyone's house and create a lot of ruckus during Holi.

Now the situation has become such that if a girl stays at a relative's house for a long time, the family members get worried as to why it got so late. They immediately call and ask what are you doing, and come home soon. Why now people no longer have that much trust in relationships?

On the other hand, there has been a difference in the food habits on the day of Holi. Gujhiya, Puri-Kachori, Aloo Dum, Mahjoom (Khowa), etc. have become mere formalities. Now even on the day of Holi, things like cold drinks and fast food are being served to the guests.

At the same time, taking seven rounds around Holika and pray for the happiness and peace of one's home, making cakes of different shapes from cow dung, making garlands of grandmothers' Makhanas, distributing sweets from house to house with their friends in colorful dress up. Sharing, roasting wheat plants, and singing Holi folk songs. Now all these traditions are left in name only.

Now Holi is only a continuation of tradition. In recent times, anger and hatred in society have increased to such an extent that elite families do not want to go out on the day of Holi. People have been celebrating Holi with great enthusiasm since year after year. The purpose of this festival is to maintain mutual brotherhood by burning evils and vices. Today there are many problems in India.

Talking about social inequality, due to this mutual love, brotherhood, humanity, and morality are ending in society. Holi festival once had its importance, the entire family used to be present together on Holika Dahan. And on the day of Holi, they applied colors to each other and celebrated the festival of Abir Uda. A group of people used to sing Fagua songs while enjoying Bhang and went from door to door to spread the love of Holi.

Now the situation is such that on the day of Holi, 40 percent of the population locks themselves in their rooms. Every month, every season brings the news of the arrival of some festival or the other, and why not, these festivals of ours make us alive, infuse energy, and awaken hope in sad minds. The burden of loneliness is reduced even if for a short while and the company of friends fills us with feelings.

It is this festive spirit that gives our country a different identity compared to others. To reduce the growing hatred in the society on Holi, we have to look at it from the perspective of human and basic necessity.