Avadhoot Dandekar

Happy Holi (A Poem)

Festival of Colours

7 letters in the word ‘Colours’.

7 Colours in the Rainbow (VIBGYOR).

Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red.

7 basic human emotions.

Happiness, Sadness, Fear, Anger, Disgust, Surprise, and Contempt.

7 Swaras in Music.

Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni.

Saptarishis are the 7 sacred sages in Hinduism.

Atri, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Jamadagni, Kashyapa, Vashishtha, Vishwamitra.

7 sacred rivers of India.

Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri.

7 Chakras in you.

Muladhara, Swadhisthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha, Ajna, Sahasrara.

In Sahasrara, you will discover your Soul.

It is beyond all names. It is beyond all colours.

It is deathless. It is immortal.

Hiranyakashipu, Prahlada's father, was a demon King.

He wanted to kill his own son because he was worshipping Vishnu.

Holika was Hiranyakashipu’s demon sister.

Holika is immune to fire when alone because of a boon.

Holika Dahan engulfs Holika.

Prahlada survives because of his devotion to Vishnu.

Vishnu is the God of Life and sustenance.

Birth is not a life. It is not a beginning.

Death is not the end of life. It is not an ending.

Birth and Death are just two events in an eternal Life.

Many have come, and many have gone.

Many Holis have come and gone.

Even this one will also go.

And a new one will come next year.

Life will go on. Holi will go on.

Happiness is now. Blissfulness is now.

Happy Holi. Safe Holi.

What is Holika Dahan?

This is a legend according to the Vishnu Purana. Hiranyakashipu was a demon King. He was blinded by ego (Ahankara). He demanded that everyone worship him as a God. But his son Prahlada remained devoted to Lord Vishnu. Furious, the king plotted to kill his own son. He takes the help of his demon sister, Holika, to kill his son, Prahlada. Holika had a boon. She was immune to fire. The fire could not burn her, but only when she was alone. Holika attempted to kill her nephew, Prahlada, by placing him in her lap in a bonfire. She was burned in the fire, while Prahlada survived as he was devoted to God Vishnu. Holi is celebrated in India as the victory of good over evil, marked by the annual burning of Holika's effigy.

Many Holis have come and gone. Even this one will also go. And a new one will come next year. Life will go on. Holi will go on. Happiness is now. Blissfulness is now. Wish you a Happy Holi. Play safe Holi.