ASIAN SCENE: A revered springtime festivity

Last Sunday the festivity was observed by Hindu faithful and friends in Kenya. A Holi Mela (fete) was held at the SSD Temple Grounds to set the ball rolling for merry making and group dancing to the beat of Holi songs. PHOTO| KENBHARTI

What you need to know:

  • For more happiness and culinary fun, the second round of East FM’s Karoga Premier League 2017 is at Curry in Hurry westlands this afternoon. Be there for a great time!

A unique festival of colours is observed in the Indian sub-continent to mark the advent of springtime. The celebration is not just jubilation at the rejuvenation of nature from the gloom of winter but also a time to usher in merry making and peace and love for each other. This spring celebration is called the Holi Festival and is revered the world over. It is a blessed time to foster love for fellow beings by literally sprinkling colours on each other and dancing in ecstasy.  

Last Sunday the festivity was observed by Hindu faithful and friends in Kenya. A Holi Mela (fete) was held at the SSD Temple Grounds to set the ball rolling for merry making and group dancing to the beat of Holi songs. The highlight of the festivity was a spirited exposition by participants to colour each other with dry colours or spraying coloured water. This in the true spirit of Holi is considered to symbolically wish everyone happiness and love. At the Hospital Hill Primary School in Parklands, Kenbharti also hosted a daylong fun fiesta. Over a thousand Kenyans from across the religious, racial and ethnic barriers participated, danced and had fun.

Holi, besides being a seasonal festival that announces joy and gaiety, has a strong religious reverence for the Hindu faithful. It is associated with various mythological legends. Here foremost is the legend of the demon king Harnaykshyap who demanded his subjects to worship him. His son Prahlad, a pious devotee of Lord Vishnu went against the father’s wishes and earned his wrath. The father sentenced him to die in a blaze of fire. The demon’s sister Holika who had a heavenly boon that made her immune to fire also stepped into the blaze in a show of strength and ego. Prahlad was saved miraculously by the Lord whilst Holika perished. This episode of the legend reminds devotees of the victory of virtuous and good over forces of evil.

For more happiness and culinary fun, the second round of East FM’s Karoga Premier League 2017 is at Curry in Hurry westlands this afternoon. Be there for a great time!