Importance of celebration
Celebration is essential to making a place achieve the feeling and reality of inclusion. A celebration can build connections among diverse people and cultures by lifting up and understanding our commonalities and differences.
Throughout India and in Indian communities around the world, there is a rich tradition of cultural and religious festivals which are times of shared joy and lifting of spirits much like the celebrations enjoyed in many other cultures.
In coordination with Wilsonville Indian community members, Pratima Rao, Swati Karpalati, Mini Bhat, Sujatha Bhaskar, and Divya Kollu, WAIC is excited to highlight the Festival of Holi to promote learning community through the celebration of diverse perspectives and cultures in Wilsonville.
Holi: Festival of Optimism
Holi (ˈhōlē) is a joyous annual festival with traditional religious significance, observed by Hindus during the spring full moon (typically around March). It is a huge social event, celebrating life itself with food, music, dancing, bright colors, a spirit of joy and inclusiveness, and the very important message: good triumphs over evil. While best known today as an energetic festival of colors, references to its origin and significance are found in the Vedas, Puranas, and stone inscriptions from 300 BC, and on temple walls at Hampi built in the 16th century.
Several legends are associated with Holi, but the primary one is about an evil king, Hiranyakashipu, who sought to deify himself. Through a magical wish, Hiranyakashipu protected himself against being killed. Having gained near-immortality, he demanded everyone worship him, but his son Prahlad refused and maintained his traditional faith in Lord Vishnu, one of the main deities in the Hindu religion (whose avatars include Lord Rama and Lord Krishna).
Hiranyakashipu had a sister, Holika, who possessed a cloak that protected its wearer from fire. He convinced Holika to help him kill Prahlad by tricking Prahlad into a bonfire, which was intended to immolate Prahlad and leave Holika untouched.
When the fire was lit, the magical cloak left Holika and wrapped itself around Prahlad. The fire consumed Holika instead, thwarting the evil king’s plan. Hiranyakashipu was later killed by Lord Vishnu who appears in another avatar form of Lord Narasimha, thus ensuring the victory of good over evil.
The festival of Holi (from Holika) begins with Holika Dahan or lighting the bonfire on the evening of the spring lunar full moon.
A second story associated with Holi is about Krishna, who was in love with Radha, the goddess of love. As Krishna struggles to reconcile his insecurity about his blue skin, he paints her with bright colors, which makes them look alike.
The central Holi custom of communities showering each other with bright colors seems to be inspired by this story.
What is a Holi Festival?
Bonfire and Colors
A few days prior to the festival, people collect materials from community parks and open spaces for the Holika Dahan bonfire. This bonfire on the evening of the full moon signifies the rescue of Prahlad, and also a moment of symbolic cleansing. The second day of Holi is known as Rang wali Holi or Dhulheti – the Festival of Colors. The community gathers in the open air, armed with bright colors in both dry powders known as gulal and liquid form such as pichkaris and water guns, showering each other with bright colors amidst music and dancing and visiting each others’ homes.
Sweets and Savories
Special food preparations mark the day and a very special sweet called Gujiya (Sweet dumpling) filled with nuts and khoya (dairy products) are served along with a customary drink called Thandai. Other delicacies made on the day include Chaat, kachoris, Dahi-vada, chole-bhature, and a variety of savory namkeens (treats).
Through both practices, several community elements are incorporated. First, it’s a chance to join in community play! Anyone and everyone can hit you with a burst of color, and you can return the favor!
Coming at the beginning of spring, Holi is also a chance to celebrate the end of winter. The bonfire can represent the opportunity to say goodbye to negative moments and feelings from the past. However, the mythology of Prahlad, Holi, and Hiranyakashipu is also a forward-looking reminder to be an honest and good person, even when faced with pressure from negative impulses or selfish folks.
Holi in Wilsonville and Oregon
The most familiar images of Holi show people enthusiastically throwing colored powders at one another. Swati Karpalati and Pratima Rao, both Wilsonville residents, fondly recall from their childhoods that “Holi was a social event!” As a child growing up in India, Swati remembers meeting family and neighbors to throw colors, and boundaries were set aside as people moved throughout neighborhoods in shared camaraderie with friends and strangers alike.
Pratima celebrated Holi in upstate New York with many Indian families with similar spirited enthusiasm. Pratima particularly notes that her parents and others sought to continue and share the beautiful traditions of Indian culture and heritage with their wider communities, much the same way as other descendants of immigrants did regardless of their ethnic origins.
The celebration of Holi has grown in recent years across cultural boundaries as a joyful way to celebrate the arrival of spring. Wilsonville residents can celebrate Holi and other traditional Indian and Hindu festivals right here in Oregon. Many Indian families in Wilsonville join these community events, and all are welcome to attend.
Indian Student Associations have hosted Holi for several years at colleges in Oregon, including Oregon State, University of Oregon, Portland State University, and Portland Community College.
The India Cultural Association of Portland reports that the Portland area is home to about 10,000 Indians and hosts an annual India Festival.
Watch an interview on the meaning of Holi including some perspective on its growing popularity worldwide.
Be on the lookout for local celebrations of Holi, including by the Chinmaya Mission, or other Indian cultural celebrations and local events!