By Damian Woods, Uk Volunteer working at Hindu Vidyapeeth from Aug 07 to May 08 

Holi-day is a festival of great fanfare celebrated throughout Nepal and India. Choreographed dance, colourful powders, loud costumes and copious amounts of fun characterize this community-centred day.

 

Its one of the few festivals that is universal in its appeal: it requires no specific devotions to a god or goddess; it is not honouring one person or ideal to the exclusion of others. Rather it is simply a glorious celebration of the wonder of life: the multi-hued tapestry of creation.

 

Children bombard each other with colour and water in playful fights, adults either stand as hapless victims or re-connect with their own child-like nature and join the fun. And yet the light-hearted mischief is interspersed with gentle respect and love shown symbolically through the giving of Tika- coloured powder applied to the forehead as a blessing. Song and dance and Prasad- food offerings- are in abundance as families and friends pay visits to each other, embracing amidst the mayhem.

 

The festival fittingly marks the advent of spring, the blooming of nature's own art-show. And this year the same day also marked the Birthday of Muhammad on the Islamic calendar, and Good Friday on the Christian. Let us take from this timely confluence of faiths the message that each culture in its own way is contributing to the variety and richness of life, and hope that finally we are entering a 'season' of harmony and honour: an era of intercultural togetherness and interfaith worship; a medley of humanity in all its wondrous diversity and the joy of getting to know one another.

 

Think of the best of Bollywood dancing, and you will garner a sense of the day's mood. Luxurious Indian movements, traditional Nepali steps- all accentuating the spell-binding rhythm that pulsates throughout these lands both in music and character. Each culture has its distinctive personality, and holi-day mirrors many of the textures and qualities that make Hinduism what it is: vibrant, multi-faceted and generous.

 

Please see the snap shots below of how Hindu Vidyapeeth and friends celebrated this community affirming day. It included an intrepid bus tour of Kathmandu, dodging water bombs and colour barricades, visiting many friends of the school, including singing songs with children from the disabled life centre.