Story by Robert Beard
No one celebrates the return of blue skies, golden sunshine, green leaves and flowers of all colours better than Burngreave’s Hindu community. If you call at the Hindu Samaj on 25th March, the Spring festival of Holi, be sure to wear clothes that wash easily – whatever colour they are when you go in, you’ll look like a walking rainbow when you leave.
An ancient Indian story tells how the handsome and playful god Vishnu teased a group of village milkmaids who had caught his eye by flinging coloured dyes over them.
This is exactly what you can expect to happen when you join in this celebration of the death of winter, the coming of spring, and the triumph of good over evil. It’s a time when families get together to exchange cards and presents, and smear or throw coloured paint over each other’s faces and clothes. In some households, children mix the celebration with a show of respect to their seniors by gently smearing colour on their feet. Similar scenes form the climax to the ceremonies in the temple, then everyone gathers for a feast.
Debjani Chatterjee is a local Hindu and poet. Burngreave Library, which she opened over ten years ago, stocks some of her forty books for children and adults. Her latest book is Masala: New and Selected Poems. Debjani explains in the poem below why the festival is called Holi:
Horrible Holika held Hiranyakashipu’s heir
On her fearsome lap as the awful flames crackled around.
Loving Lord Vishnu listened to Prahlad’s innocent prayer.
Instantly the blaze consumed her; the child stayed safe and
sound.
(H, O, L and I are the first letters of each line)