India’s Holi festival unites cultures through color, tradition
By Hamideh Hosseini
Staff writer
With a spirit of togetherness, Indian Ambassador Shri Rudra Gaurav Shresth hosted a lively Holi festival at his residence in Tehran on April 4. The event, steeped in ancient traditions, brought together neighbors and friends to celebrate the arrival of spring, casting away negativity with a bonfire and sharing lively colors. As the ambassador gave an overview of the festival’s rich history and its parallels with Iranian celebrations, he highlighted how Holi transcends boundaries, fostering joy and community spirit among people of all faiths.
The full text of the interview
follows:
IRAN DAILY: Can you provide an introduction to the traditional ceremony of Holi? What is it, and how is it celebrated as an ancient Indian tradition?
SHRI RUDRA GAURAV SHRESTH: Holi is essentially a two-day festival, beginning with a night of festivities that culminates in lunchtime celebrations the following day. It starts with a bonfire, where neighbors gather to burn a large fire, dancing around it. This aspect is quite similar to Iran’s Chaharshanbe Suri, where we symbolically cast away negativity by throwing it into the fire. We believe that everything bad in the home or community—resentments, anger—can be purged through this act.
The next morning, everyone takes to the streets to adorn each other’s faces and clothes with vibrant colors. The day is filled with music, dancing, and an abundance of sweets specifically prepared for the occasion. This continues until lunchtime, when the festivities wind down. Holi is fundamentally a spring festival celebrating color and the rejuvenation of nature, akin to Nowruz. It marks a transition: The night signifies the end of negativity, while the following day is a fresh start filled with joy and beauty. In my view, there are many similarities between Holi and Iranian festivals like Chaharshanbe Suri, Nowruz, and Sizdah bedar, which all celebrate nature and the arrival of spring. It’s an ancient festival, much like Nowruz and Persian traditions, highlighting our shared cultural heritage.
Are there any specific symbols associated with this ceremony, similar to the “Haft Seen” in Nowruz, where each element holds significance?
Unlike Nowruz, we don’t create a thematic display for Holi. It is primarily a street festival, celebrated outdoors rather than indoors. Typically, it’s a neighborhood celebration, with people from the same village or city coming together. The symbols of Holi manifest in the colors we use, the bonfire from the previous night, and the special foods prepared for the occasion. There are also traditional songs and dances unique to Holi that are performed during the festival. However, we do not have a static symbol like the “Haft Seen” in Nowruz.
How long has Holi been celebrated, and what are its roots and the stories behind this tradition?
Holi is a very ancient festival, and no one is exactly sure when it started; it likely predates even the arrival of the Aryans in India. Over time, many stories have become associated with Holi in different regions of the country, each with its own mythological significance.
One story related to the bonfire on the previous night comes from ancient religious texts and revolves around a powerful demon king. He received a boon from the gods that made him invincible—he couldn’t be killed during the day or night, indoors or outdoors, on earth or in the air. This led him to become arrogant, demanding that his subjects worship him as a god. However, his young son challenged this notion, insisting that his father was merely human. Enraged, the king ordered his sister to take the boy and sit in a fire, believing she was protected by a special shawl. As the fire blazed, the shawl fell from her shoulders, protecting the boy while she perished. This tale symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, as the boy survives while the evil is consumed by fire.
For the colors, there is a charming story from the ‘Mahabharata,’ which is a significant text in Indian mythology. It features Krishna, a young god who has a crush on a fair-skinned girl in his village. Feeling insecure about his own darker complexion, Krishna hesitates to approach her. The girl, aware of his feelings, tells her mother about Krishna’s shyness. The two mothers decide to create a playful game where the children can color each other, conveying the message that skin color is superficial. Through this playful interaction, Krishna gains the confidence to approach the girl, leading to a blossoming romance. This story emphasizes the idea that love transcends external appearances.
There are also regional stories associated with Holi, such as one from South India involving Shiva, a principal god in Hinduism. After the death of his wife, Shiva renounces the world and enters deep meditation. The gods fear that if Shiva relinquishes his desire for union with his wife, the universe will cease to exist. To prevent this, they reincarnate his wife as a beautiful woman to attract him. However, she struggles to break his meditation, prompting the god of love to intervene. Despite Shiva’s anger at being distracted, the reincarnated wife ultimately teaches him about the importance of love and desire, leading to their reunion.
While there are numerous stories associated with Holi, it is not primarily a religious festival. There are no formal prayers or rituals; it is a community celebration that people of all faiths participate in. The third Mughal king famously walked through the streets during Holi, encouraging people to throw colors on him, measuring his popularity by the amount of color on his clothes when he returned home. Many famous Holi songs were penned by Persian poets, including Amir Khusrow. Even the last Mughal king composed beautiful songs about Holi that are still sung today.
Holi is celebrated by people of various religions, including Sikhs, who have their own distinctive way of marking the occasion, often incorporating martial elements. Because it is a street festival and lacks religious ceremonies, it is primarily seen as a social celebration rather than a religious observance. While there are some religious stories associated with it, the essence of Holi lies in enjoyment and community spirit.
I understand that Holi is not a state-sponsored celebration; it’s primarily a grassroots event. Can you elaborate on that?
That’s correct. We don’t have any official ceremonies for Holi, but typically, people visit the homes of political leaders during the festival. Whether it’s the prime minister or the president, these leaders welcome people into their homes, where they celebrate by applying colors and serving food. While Holi is acknowledged by political leadership, it is not officially recognized as a state celebration. Anyone is free to participate, and it’s common for people to visit their local members of parliament as well.
Is Holi celebrated in other countries?
Yes, as I mentioned, there are about 36 million Indians living abroad, and Holi is now celebrated in nearly every country worldwide. For instance, the White House recognizes the festival to show appreciation for Indian culture.
Countries like Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka also celebrate Holi, as they share historical ties with India. In Thailand, which is a close neighbor, there is a similar festival, but they primarily play with water instead of colors. While it resembles Holi, it focuses on water play.
There are other festivals around the world, such as a tomato-throwing festival in Spain, but I don’t believe there’s any direct connection to Holi. While it may share similarities in terms of playful celebration, it is distinct from Holi. Overall, Holi is a festival rooted in the Indian subcontinent, with its primary celebrations occurring in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, which were historically part of one region.