The pan-Indian festival of Holi is upon us. On this day, people play with colors, water and whatever coloring agents they can lay their hands on. Others celebrate it by beating their husbands with sticks. But usually, it is done with colors.
People stock up on colors days and weeks before the event. It is the day when everything is forgotten. Religions, caste, creed, age, and sex go out of the window for this festival to cater to one and all. No grudges are held, no limits are drawn, and it is a complete free-for-all. Even people who don’t know each other throw colors on each other and on passersby going down the road.
But this joviality is also a problem. Sometimes it just goes overboard. People tend to do things they would never do normally. Things they would even abhor and not be seen doing in other circumstances. But the color is their mask, their protection from the roving eyes of the world. They can do anything and everything; it is the day when Dr. Jekyll willingly sets Mr. Hyde free to do as he likes.
But not everyone wants to play with colors. Some have reasons and some don’t, but they know that they don’t want to play. And that is the problem. People just won’t accept the fact that someone doesn't like to or want to play with colors. It is a given that everyone has to compulsorily do so. Along with all the joviality and fun, people also seem to lose their common sense and sensibilities on that day. They don’t tend to think of the reasons why people might not want to join in loads of fun that they are having.
It never seems to occur to them that there may be a myriad of problems, physical, psychological and societal, that may prevent people from having themselves colored like the canvas of a four-year-old.
Now, it may seem from above that I don’t like colors. Wrong! I love colors and this used to be my favorite festival after Diwali, but then something painful happened in the festive week when I was in elementary school that scarred me. And I decided to ditch this festival until the year, I went out for studies in boardings. We all know that we can't decide our fate in boardings. It's always others who will decide what you are supposed to do. And I again became a part of this festival.
I’m writing this post in the hope that all those who read it will be compassionate to those who do not or cannot play Holi. I do this in the hope that on that day, people enjoy, but don’t force people to enjoy.
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