As a child, I took a special delight in the festival of Holi. Going out with friends with pichkaris in hand filled with different hues of gulal (or aabeer, as called in Bengali), it was indeed great fun. It all used to get started in the morning and continued till afternoon (although we wanted to continue it till the evening). After coming back home, completely drenched in colored water, we used to get a good bath. My mother had a tough time bathing me. Today, I do not play Holi anymore. In fact, I find it as one of those festivals which are celebrated in complete contrast to their significance.
Holi is a festival to celebrate the triumph of good over evil. However, today I find every bit of Holi celebration no less than an evil. To elucidate, I can begin with the use of colors in today's time. In most cases, we find people celebrating it with colors having strong chemical base. These chemicals can simply ruin somebody's life by causing strong allergies on skin and even, in the eyes. These colors can also destroy your hair. Some colors are so strong that your skin and scalp bear them for many days. We all know that there is an alternative to these chemical rich colors in the form of herbal colors. But, how many us really buy them. However, we are not alone to be blamed. This is because there are many shops that charge exorbitant price for the herbal colors, making them out of reach for the common man. So, if you have a sensitive skin, playing Holi is completely a “no”.
Let us now talk about the second evil that you witness every year during this festival. Holi, for many, is simply a festival where you can drink openly with your friends. Perhaps this is the reason why I could find a huge rush in every liquor shop, while on my way back home from work, just two days before Holi. The shops were flocked by men of every age- young, middle aged and old. No wonder, we get to read so many cases of drunken driving around the time of Holi. The cases of eve teasing are also on rise during Holi. In fact, drinking and misbehaving with women and young girls can be seen as a favorite way of celebrating Holi for many. However, molesting girls in the name of Holi has become quite a trend for many years now. Whether you are drunk or not, who wants to miss the opportunity of being close to girls and touch them? The countless number of television reports on all major news channels depicting the stories of helpless girls just after Holi simply brings tears into my eyes. This is the prime reason why girls stop playing it after attaining an age. They rather enjoy being at home with their parents and feel safe.
Holi is a festival that signifies truth, goodness and bravery. Can't we celebrate it in its true essence?
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