That is the question I asked most of my friends and the unanimous reply every time would be “No!”
Holi is one of my favorite festivals… I enjoyed playing it a lot with family and friends, when I was in India…!! And it was awesomeeeeeeeeee fun!! This is one thing I miss about being in Singapore… I hear there are a few places where holi is played even here… but then, without family/friends, it isnt really that much fun, is it?
But, what concerns me is that even in India, despite Holi being a National Holiday, there is an increasing number of people who are ditching the festival…
What do you think is the reason?
Now, while we ponder over that… Wishing you all a joyful holi… 🙂 Hope you have a great one… and you play to your heart’s content! 🙂
The last time I played holi was in 2005 @ Abhishek-Shelly’s place… remember? uske baad se this is the 3rd holi abroad and I know how it feels to be missing family and friends back home…
yeah I do… though I couldnt make it as I had gone home during that time 🙂 This is my first Holi without my parents… missing them 😦
I keep reading ur posts regularly… or rather “religiously” but many I times I am unable to post a comment because of my Tarzan… This time, being the first one was such a motivating factor… :))
Hahahhaha thanks babe… u have been my oldest and most loyal reader 🙂
Just to clarify, Holi isn’t a national holiday – it isn’t a big festival in the south, except for the sizeable north indian communities that live here. Don’t know about other South Indian states – but Bangalore where I live now – many places don’t have an off – and Chennai, where I used to – few places do.
Hmmm I wasnt sure of the status of holi celebrations in South India, so did a bit of wiki-ing… This is what I found
South India
In Mattancherry area of Kochi, there are 22 different communities living together in harmony. Moreover, the Gaud Sarawat Brahmins (GSB) who speak Konkani also celebrate Holi in Cherlai area of West Kochi. They locally call it as Ukkuli in Konkani or Manjal Kuli in Malayalam. It is held around the majestic Konkani temple called Gosripuram Thirumala temple.
Karnataka,Andhra Pradesh
Holi is celebrated with much fervor. Schools and colleges declare holiday. Children, Adults alike play Holi. There is also a tradition followed in rural Karnataka, where children collect money and wood for weeks prior to Holi, and on Kamadhana night all the wood is put together and lighted. It is celebrated for two days. People in north karnataka prepare special food on this day. In Andhra Pradesh Holi is celebrated along with basnata panchami. In telangana region especially the Capital Hyderabad, Holi is a Major festival and the festivities and color starts appearing aleast a day before actual holi.
yes – I think they are localized celebrations, depending on the community. Not to say it isn’t celebrated here at all – just that it isn’t big enough for many companies, colleges etc to give an off.
In Karnataka the festival is celebrated as Vokkuli/Hokkuli… apart from some rural parts we dont use colors.. but we have a tradition of buring some wood and dancing around signifying Kama’s dhahana by lord shiva.. 🙂
Happy Holy Nova dear…
‘Holi’ – shayari which tells the two meanings of holi…
Ladki ne Ladke ke saath kheli holi….
Ladki ne Ladke ke saath kheli holi….
aur saari urm bhar keliye uski holi…. 🙂
Hey thanks for the info 🙂
@Apu: Yes, I am aware that some schools and colleges do not give holiday!
Well, I don’t playing holi ‘coz most of the time, it is played like hooliganism. Dhang se khelo yaar. Like, gulal on the cheeks, tika on forehead, hugs n sweets etc. But the way even non-interested and even unknown people walking on road are dragged and smeared with colors… i just don’t like it. Imagine if someone is going to office to attend an important meeting and he finds himself drenched in color. Horrible…
Yes Bikram… Some ppl use it as a means to harrass others… well, boooo to them for spoiling the show for others.. but in good company of family and friends, this is a festival, which helps break ice and re-bond old friendships 🙂 I have seen that happen, so I know… 🙂
I didn’t … instead, I was randomly roaming around Mumbai on a bike along with my flatmate.
(There were 2-3 failed “assassination with a balloon” attempts though!)
hahahhahah damn! why did they fail! 😛
nahiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
sadist log iss duniya ke
Hehehhehehhehe 🙂 🙂 😛
I used to play holi but thats a long time ago. Now i dont feel like. I hate the effect of colours (chemicals!!) on my skin and hair 🙂 plus i hate wasting water. But i dont say no to my daughter. She enjoys it and i let her! i get her almost drenched in oil so no colour will spoil her hair or skin and also we get herbal colours for her. Also “kesuda” flowers are used to make orange colour water, again herbal. So no worries for her.
Tolak holi is much much better.
But for me, now holi is a no-no.
Also i hate seeing so much of wood getting burnt in the name of “HOLI” agni in the eves.
Wood being burnt is a concern yes… Many unsuspecting trees wud have had to be cut for this!! Sigh!!
But other than that, what herbal colors yaar??? Try the silvers and the blacks 😉
hee..hee.. no way!! i love my skin and hair more than the fun i MIGHT have!! 😉 😀
hahahhaha wait till you meet me 😉
In Chennai, the North-Indians in my aprtment had a great time playing holi. My younger one loved it and she looks greeen, while my elder one stayed away from it.
I just love it too, but couldnt go and enjoy the festivities.
And when you are abroad, you miss these festivals more.
Wow! Thats nice 🙂 Maybe u will be able to join in the next time around 🙂
Well to be true, I miss it too and have been doing so for the past 6 years since being in the US. Of-course as you mention there are places here in the valley too where people get together in groups to celebrate this festival of colors and fun but nothing compared to what we can enjoy while being at home in Ahmedabad and visiting friends loaded with water balloons and all sorts of colors. I guess even though people back home are slowly turning away from this festival, I guess the younger lot might still be enjoying it to the fullest. Happy Holi to you too 🙂
Yes they are and thats what pains me… The coming generations may completely be unaware of what a delight this festival used to be 😦
Well, at Great Lakes too it was not a holiday…classes from 10am to 4pm with an exam too like a gift :(…but even then Great Lakers here didn’t miss even a single opportunity to enjoy…Holika Dehen + DJ at night then colors in morning, then Kichad (mud) and then Kapde…the game went for whole day…not to say there was thandai and gujiya accompanying us all the time…wonderful time…:)
Hellooo cousin 🙂 Welcome to my blog!
So, the Patriots celebrated Holi too this year!? Awesome!!! We had pretty UP-Bihar style Holi during our times too! 🙂 Gujiya!???? Now, thats a wow! Who prepared them?
This year was no different…pukka UP-Bihar iishtyle…Gujiya and Thandaii sponsored by sodexo :)…and Bhaang sponsored by few official “Nasedi”… 😉
Superrrrr!!! Lage raho!! :))) So, when does the session end?
Does it matter whether you want to play it or not? Many people do not want to play it but there are people who would force them to play and put in loads of colors n water all over them. Thats the reason why I don’t like to play it.
Yeah but then this is part of the fun… I have always been part of that group which pushes people out of their rooms.. :)))))) Oh man!! It was awesomeeeeeeeeeeee fun!!! And those hesitant initially, also wud end up enjoying immensely 🙂
I think its my personal and noone else has the right to intrude it. If I do not want to play a particular festival for whatever reason, i should have that right. Someone might be ill or might be allergic to colors or whatever the reason maybe, some people just don’t think that and just want to have their own fun. Holi is just an excuse for them to enjoy at the expense of others. The traditional phrase ‘bura na mano holi hai’ is often misused.
Ofc no one has the right to intrude your personal space… When it comes to allergies and health and serious things like those, everyone understands… I had a friend who was allergic to colors and she was the only one who was spared…
Most people think of others during Holi and want them to join the celebrations as well.. Its almost like saying people who pull everyone to the dance floor in a party are hooligans… yes, some may have the fracture or a genuine reason for not dancing… but most are just shy… they need a nudge to come out in the open and enjoy… Same is the case with Holi…
The phrase “Bura na maano Holi hai” is very apt… because Holi is a festival of pranks and games… Thats what makes it fun..! 🙂
thats my point… I myself pull people into playing holi… but no matter how many times i tell ppl that my wife is allergic of some colors, they will still put all those specific colors on her and then it makes me sad to see her skin go all red with allergy… I am only saying that some people tend to misuse it.
I can relate to what you are saying here Munish… Understand those sentiments… Some people just dont get it! Kinda sad 😦
In fact these are the ones who ruin it for the rest of us..
I would love to play Holi but here in US they don’t use pukka color as in INDIA so there’s not much fun. Its like oldies some gulal here and there and every glutton make his way towards food stall…Not the spirit of Holi which I remember. So for the past few years I haven’t played.
And that’s the main reason many people are ditching this festival. Its mostly hooliganism these days. I remember even we used to play Holi with such a zeal pushing people out of their homes but we never caused trouble to anyone especially the sick or oldies like other guys are saying.
Anyways I can just hope that this festival shouldn’t die…
I can so relate to that!! I always iterate that only oldies play with gulal and stuff yaar… main maza to pakke colors me hote hain… jinhein chudate chudate naani yaad aa jaye 😛 😛 😛
I know what you mean… We also used to push people into playing Holi but with your own friends and family, you know that its all fun and that no one will misbehave with you… Only then, can you enjoy this festival!!
I sure wish too… but from the looks of it, I wont be too surprised if it does!!
Happy holi dear!! 🙂
Same tya 🙂
actually Holi is not a national holiday. 🙂 There are only three National Holidays in India. Holi is a public holiday.
Somehow I don’t like the festival of Holi. I just cant stand anyone applying color on my face or my clothes getting dirty.
I really like holi.
Great collection yaar. Keep it up.
Holi is horrible !! The sooner it goes away, the better !!
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