HOLI REMINISCENCE

Hailing from a Garhwali village, where we still have our old family haveli, with a beautiful temple dedicated to Radha-Krishna, it was only natural that Holi was to be the festival of choice for the entire clan. At our grandparents’ home, preparations for the great day began weeks in advance. Colossal amounts of tesu flowers would arrive to be boiled in massive brass cauldrons for hours on end. The vermilion-colored water was used to play Holi. Of course gulal (dry color), in myriad hues would also be purchased to smear each other’s faces with, but made of wheat flour, it did no harm to the skin unlike the hazardous chemical stuff which is rife today. Armed with massive pichkaris and pails of colored water, we would patiently wait for an appropriate target. If a gentleman with a starched white kurta and dhoti passed by, our delight at besmirching his pristine attire, with a mélange of crimson and orange, knew no bounds. If he fumed and fulminated, brandishing his stick, our joy was multifold. We would scamper away at lightening speed to raucous screams of Holi hai! Complaints to our elders in the family would fall on deaf ears. Be a sport, the harried complainant would be told. Surely you can’t take umbrage at innocent little Bal-gopals, indulging in a bit of frolic and that too during the Holi season?

A few hours and several pails of colored water later, we would raid the kitchen for various sweets. Gujiyas, stuffed with khoya and an assortment of fried fruit were the perennial favorite. Washed sown with fragrant thandai, minus the bhang of course, it was the end of an idyllic afternoon. As for bhang, it was de rigueur for all the disparate reactions on different people. Some became wildly merry, yet otters turned philosophical, spouting forth pearls of wisdom. My uncle usually lapsed into a very deep sleep. Fifteen years down the line, Holi’s association with lumpen behaviors makes it our most dreaded festival. Refusing to hobnob with the bands of merrymakers, i lock myself at home, catch up on the latest blockbuster on the DVD and hope to goodness we are not disturbed.