This past weekend, Dharma celebrated Holi, the festival of colors, with food and kabbadi in Leverett Old Library, followed by the core event of rang, or colors, in the MAC Quad. Nice weather and a diverse turnout made for a great day of fun!
But throughout all this celebration, I did not know what the purpose or significance of the festival was. Nor did I ask — after all, I was busy enjoying the festivities! Thinking about it now, I realize that I’m generally ignorant about the significance of the various festivals and ceremonies that Dharma holds here at Harvard — yet I still manage to enjoy them all. Because we’re already on the subject, let’s take Holi as an example.
Given that I don’t know much about why we celebrate Holi, I checked Wikipedia, which provides a background and significance for the festival. I read the backstory, the associated protagonists and antagonists, a rationale for the name — and now I am better-informed about an event whose origin I’ve taken for granted.
Still, my mind doesn’t feel any fuller after getting this background. Now I have a backstory for Holi, but it is just that — a story. I could just as easily make up another story, with apparently equal authority if I narrate it to a friend. Does it matter that Holi celebrates the triumph of the righteous Prahlada over the demoness Holika? We who dedicate our time to making events like this happen must ask — what is the modern spiritual significance of this wonderful festival? If it’s just about community, why does it have any spiritual value at all?
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3 Comments
I think it is primarily about community. The fact that it is a spiritual festival merely helps people identify with the community that celebrates it.
It seems like the celebration is what prompted you to think about the spiritual significance of Holi, and maybe that’s the value of celebrations- they engage people and can make them think about the festival’s religious meaning and underlying values.
@Gauri
I’m having difficulty thinking about the underlying values of throwing colors at each other. Can you think of any ideas?
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