Holi kee shubh kaamnaaye ho!

[Guest guest]

Holi on 19th March 2003 One of most celeberated colourful festival Holi is a

time when we willembrace each other as a mark of love and paint each other with

bright colors.It marks the triumph of a young boywho is believed to be the

incarnation of God on Earth, over the evil kingwho tries to destroy him.The

colors signify joy and happiness but of moreimportance is the fact that this

festival succeeds in breaking down thoseintangible barriers that separate

people. People from all walks of lifeirrespective of their cast, creed or

religion are encouraged to participatein the festivities. This is one of the

few times when India, a country of somany diverse religions and cultures,

celebrates in union.  The symbolismhere is that 'good shall always prevail over

evil.' . Apart from the variousamusements, they create faith in God when

properly observed. Hindu festivalsalways have a spiritual significance. They

wean the man away from sensualpleasures and take him gradually to the spiritual

path and divine communion.People perform 'havan' and offer the new grains that

are harvested to thegods before using them.There should be worship of God,

religious gatherings and Kirtan of theLord's Names on such occasions, not mere

pumping of coloured water andlighting bonfires. These functions art to be

considered sacred and spent indevotional prayers, visiting holy palace bathing

in sacred waters, 'Satsang'with great evolved souls, doing charity to the poor,

etc. Then only can Holibe said to have been properly celebrated. The devotees of

the Lord remember&; delightful pastimes of the Lord a such happy occasions.Being

an agricultural country India's two big festivals are at harvest timewhen the

barns and granaries of our farmers are full and they have reason toenjoy &;

fruits of their hard labour. The harvest season is a festive seasonall over the

world.The religious element in the Holi festival is the worship of Krishna.

Insome places it is also called the Dol Yatra. The word 'dol' Literally means"a

swing". An image of Krishna as a babe is Placed in a little swingcradle,and

decorated with flowers and painted with coloured powders. The innocentfrolics

of little Krishna with the merry milkmaids ('Gopis') of Brindavanare

commemorated. Religious people chant the name of Krishna and singHoli-songs

relating to the frolics of little Krishna with the Gopis.The social element in

Holi is the uniting or "embracing" of the great andthe small, of the rich and

the poor, and also amongst the equals. Thefestival teaches us to "let the dead

bury the dead". Forget the outgoingyears ill-feeling and begin the New Year

with love, sympathy, co-operationand equality with all. Try to feel this

oneness a unity with the Self also.Holi also means "sacrifice". Burn all the

impurities of the mind such asegoism vanity, lust, etc., through the fire of

devotion and knowledge..Ignite cosmic love, mercy, generosity, selflessness,

truthfulness and puritythrough the fire of Yogic practice. This is the real

spirit of Holi. Get upfrom the mire of stupidity and absurdity and dive deep

into the ocean ofdivinity.The call of Holi is to keep always the blaze of

God-love shining in yourheart. Inner spiritual illumination is real Holi. The

spring season is themanifestation of the Lord, according to the Bhagavad Gita.

Holi is theresaid to be His heart. The story behind it is that  when we rejoice

in the victory of pure,divine Prahlaad over his sister Holika. The story - in a

simple, condensedway - says that Prahlaad was a young,beautiful, pure, divine

devotee of God. However, Prahlaad's father was apowerful king who believed that

everyone should worship him. At Prahlaad'srefusal to do so, due to his

single-minded love of God, his father decidedtohave him killed. Prahlaad's aunt

(his father's sister), Holika, had beengiven aspecial shawl as a boon from God

(for various austerities she hadperformed).When she wore this shawl, she could

not be burned by fire. So, Prahlaad'sfatherand his sister devised a plan in

which she would wear her shawl and holdPrahlaad tightly in her arms as they sat

in fire. In this way, Prahlaadwould bekilled, but she would emerge

unscathed.However, as divine plan works, a strong gust of wind came and blew

the shawloffof her, as well as carried pure Prahlaad to safety. Holika was

burned in thefire of her own evil.One of the great obstacles in life to our

spiritual progress is thedifferencebetween what we do or say on the outside and

how we really are on theinside.Holika had performed certain austerities by which

she was entitled to thisboonfrom God. On the outside, she was "pious." But, on

the inside she was notpure.Prahlaad, on the other hand, was a simple, pure,

loving devotee of God. Thisiswhat saved him. This inner purity and inner piety

is what truly save us,whattruly make our lives divine.So many of us go to

temple, do the rituals, offer money to the priests, andchant a certain number

of malas. Then, we go out and act in selfish,unpious,dishonest ways. These may

not necessarily take the form of bigtransgressions.It may simply be the way we

speak to our children, or to our loved ones. Itmaysimply be the way we try to

cheat those with whom we do business. It may betheway we sit and gossip about

others.All the rituals and puja in the world cannot make up for a lack of

piety,honesty and compassion. The goal of going to temple is not just to

performrituals; the goal is to become spiritual. God is happier with

pure,innocent,devoted Prahlaad than with all the austerities and rituals

performed by hisfather and aunt.Let us truly pray to God that on this day "I"

may become holy.Let us pray that "I" may become pious, pure and devoted as

Prahlad. In thatwayour lives and our hearts and our souls will be forever

protected, foreversheltered at His holy feet. As we chant "Holi I, Holi I, Holi

I...." let usalsopray that our "eye" may become holy, that we may be granted the

divinevision bywhich we behold Him in all whom we see. Let us pray that through

our holyeye,we never are led toward anger, greed, lust or jealousy.LET THIS

HOLI BE A TIME WHEN WE CHANGE NOT ONLY THE COLOR OF OUR FACES,BUT THE COLOR OF

OUR HEARTS.LET US NOT ONLY "PLAY" HOLI, BUT LET US BECOME HOLY.LET THE ONLY

COLOR THAT TRULY PENETRATES OUR BEINGS, BE THE COLOR OF GOD.FOR, ON THE MORNING

AFTER HOLI THE OTHER COLORS WILL WASH AWAY.BUT WE MUST LET THE COLOR OF GOD BE

INDELIBLEIN OUR EYES, IN OUR EARS AND IN OUR HEARTS.LET US PRAY  FOR WORLD

PEACE IN THIS OCCASION