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Kathmandu Friday March 09, 2001 Falgun 26, 2057.
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Holi, Holikas
and Horror
By Beena Kharel
KATHMANDU, Come Holi, and the evil forces
seem to be on the rampage, against girls - be they adolescents, teenagers or grown-ups. To
some, this may be an exaggeration. To those, who have had a brush with the wrong side of
Holi, it does have a ring of truth. During the Holi festival, that informally kicks off
several days ahead, girls literally live a veritable nightmare. This time too, the same
story is unfolding. Though the city looks calm on the surface, its numerous gullies are
actually seething with the rage of Holi.
Ordinary water-filled balloons are out of
vogue. And in are jumbo balloons filled with all imaginable stuff—ink, egg, tomato
sauce, to name a few. It seems that this festival is a golden chance to unleash mischief
against females. Forget the ensuing rage, humiliation and mess; one cannot but help wonder
over the accuracy with which lolaas are pelted at women. The attackers, in most cases, are
often adolescents or teenagers.
Under the careful instructions of
"bigger brats", smaller kids were also seen trying to excel in lolaa-throwing
after a series of trials and errors. But those, who had yet to learn the objectionable
tricks of the trade, wrought havoc when they missed their target. Innocent ones just ended
up getting smeared and soaked in liquid that emitted a nauseating smell.
Just mention the name "Holi" in
front of a girl or even a grown-up woman, and tales of woe and horror gushes forth. Or, if
you care to observe for yourself, you can see plenty of scenes of Holi at its worst.
Earlier this week, a pretty school girl, barely in her teens, was waiting for her school
bus in Putalisadak, near the Traffic Police Office at Singha Durbar. All of a sudden, a
group of rowdy and cowardly boys, atop a tall house, showered "loaded lolaas" on
her. Drenched, humiliated and helpless, I saw her brimming with tears. And guess what?
Patrolling police were on the roadside just stopping and staring, with half-concealed
smiles. Retaliation is impossible when the onslaught is carried out from
"inaccessible hideouts," and thus, the hit-and-run manages to go unchecked.
But of late, the story has taken a different
turn. Increasingly, girls are trying to prove that lolaa-throwing is not a male monopoly.
Their idea seems to invoke the saying that compulsion is the mother of creation, and hence
the need to pay the miscreants in their own coin. But excessive encouragement could help
the unholy Holi war flare up.
Traditional tale has it that the Holi
festival is the celebration of triumph over evil. Holika, a female demon was burnt to
ashes while an innocent child, who was a devotee of Lord Bishnu, was saved from the
clutches of the demoness. But sadly, in Kathmandu Valley, demonic forces have made Holikas
out of some of our urban dwellers.
The Home Ministry used to publish warning
notices against miscreants every year, stating the punishment for misconduct. But it
served as nothing more than a mere formality. Except for a few rare cases, the Holi
miscreants always manage to go scot-free. And this time too, it wasn’t any different.
Surprisingly, on the Falgun Purnima, the last
and legitimate finale of Holi, Kathmanduites seem to go off to sleep. The earlier vigour
and excitement loses its tempo. Streets are almost deserted, and most people lock
themselves inside their houses. Except for a few enthusiastic youngsters, others hardly
participate in the festival. Even if they do, it is not with so much ebullience. Why this
waning popularity of Holi? Perhaps, its bitter side has stolen much of its lively thunder
and gaiety. Or could it be that the acute shortage of water, price hikes and
individualistic culture are too overwhelming?
Anomalies do surface during festivals, and
most of the time the darker side of man is exposed. What may start as an ordinary
celebration of water and colour may take an ugly turn. There have been a number of cases
of serious accidents and other highly unpleasant incidents. If excessive spending and
ostentatious display are the darker side of the Dashain and Tihar festival, vengeance
against womankind is the flip side of Holi. And since every dog has its day, the black
business in adulterated vermilion and colour powder soars. Schools and colleges shut down
several days ahead of the festival.
Holi, the festival of colour and vigour,
heralds spring and liberates us from the tyranny of winter. The drab and dull cityscape,
preparing to burst into springtime, is drenched in the celebration of Holi. But amidst the
capital’s dust and filth, the traces of magnificent colour may look a bit
incongruous.
Soon the balloons will vanish from the scene,
pichkaris will be put away, spring drizzles will wash way the Holi colours. Girls too will
heave a sigh of relief, at least for another year. And the Holikas and street urchins will
remain subdued until another bandh or Hrithik Roshan episode breaks out.
Perhaps, this city needs a slight change.
Wouldn’t it be a good idea to promote playing Holi on the Net?
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