Holi is not just one of the biggest festivals in India, but also the most colourful one and probably the most beloved by foreigners. It’s a celebration of spring, of unity and brotherhood and like many festivals of India it symbolizes triumph of good over evil.
Being a joyous festival of colour and bonhomie, there are many women who don’t feel safe enough to play Holi. like the carnival festivals, while Holi allows a temporary inversion of day to day relationships, that very same conditions make Holi exciting in a group setting; the freedom to attack strangers also gives an easy cover for harassment and even assault.
A lot of people try to take advantage of the occasion as they think they get the licence to transgress boundaries in public space and mute all voices of protest. ‘Bura Na Mano Holi Hai’ is the refrain. You don’t wish to be singled out as a spoilsport, however offensive and galling someone’s behaviour might be.
As a result, women prefer to quietly recede to the security of their familiar territory till the colours have faded away. The manner in which the celebrations seek to exploit their vulnerabilities, the patriarchal order makes them flinch.
Holi and its colour symbolize the exuberance of nature. But with time, it has become a religious affair and has been re-defined with muscularity and aggression.
Women love Holi but they have no trust in men who play with them. Unfortunately, for many men in the city, it is a day when they have easy access to women’s bodies.
Humiliation and misery can’t be the defining colours of a vibrant festival. Women should enjoy the freedom of Holi. They can play in smaller, private celebrations in which everyone knows everyone else and be with a group that doesn’t take advantage of them. However, it is a women prerogative to be where she chooses to be.
It is the Government’s job to ensure adequate security for women everywhere during Holi. If we are civil and evolve as a society, respect each other’s dignity, space and feelings while celebrating the festival of colours. Only then the day of celebrations won’t turn into an occasion of mourning.
let this Holi stand up for the women of the city and make a new beginning.
(The writer is a student of Integrated MCA at the Utkal University)