Holi is a Hindu spring festival celebrated in the Indian subcontinent, also known as the festival of colors. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships.
All of this sounds good but as teens, I and my friends made this into a fearful festival; especially for women. We used sperm balloons, condom bombs, eggs, stones, and hazardous chemical colors at people to force them into the spirit of the festival.
I also remember cases of groping with some of the girls from our housing society. The terrace was our playground but it turned into a haunted house full of wicked people like us. There was this forceful touching game without consent; all in the name of applying colors.
That was NOT cool.
But in that age and with those people around, this was a common act that. I regret it now and as an atonement, I didn’t play this festival for many-many years until recently when I realized my mistake.
I’m sure that this festival can be played without being a horrible person and without using disgusting tools.
ज़बरदस्ती को मस्ती का ना ममत दीजिये |
इस होली, सिर्फ होली खेलिए |
The thing is that no one stood against all of this at that time and many like me weren’t on the right track for years. But, now we know that all this is gross and I pray to all of you to avoid such things while celebrating a pure festival.
It’s like non-consensual sex, no means no.
