Happy Holi, my personal story.

HAPPY HOLI, My personal story
Several years ago, my son, daughter and I were drenched in Holi colors at the Hindu Temple festivities and were driving home. At the stop light, the people in cars on either side stared at us and looked scared and took off screeching on the green light... then it dawned on us that we looked bloody, green, yellow and mellow.......

Wow, Happy Holi!

This festival breaks the barriers between people, between adults and children, family members and friends, and opens up to each other. My kids thoroughly enjoyed throwing the colors in liquid and dust forms on me, they loved it. I would also call it friendship festival as it removes inhibitions. The picture below reflects that sentiments - all colors coming together to create oneness, thus the phrase Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam; the whole world is one family. Similar expressions are a staple in every faith.

Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna which usually falls in the later part of February or March.

Legend has it that inn Vrindavan and Mathura, where Lord Krishna grew up, the festival is celebrated for 16 days. Krishna is believed to have complained to his mother about the contrast between his dark skin complexion and Radha's lighter skin complexion. Krishna's mother decided to apply color to Radha's face. The celebrations officially usher in spring, the celebrated season of love.

Holi is a festival of radiance in the universe. During this festival, different waves of radiance traverse the universe, thereby creating various colors that nourish and complement the function of respective elements in the atmosphere.

For the last 15 years, I have been writing about every festival on the earth, have done a weekly Radio program called "Festivals of the world" and shared about each festival. Make it simple enough that most people can get the essence of it. For Hindus there is lot more depth and meaning to it, but for the non-Hindus, this gives them an idea about the festival. It is a part of the Pluralism education, so we all can know each other and appreciate our own uniqueness. Each one of is a model of our own.

Mike Ghouse is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His work is reflected in 4 websites and 27 Blogs at http://www.mikeghouse.net/