Today is Holi – The Festival of Colors! Like all things Indian, there are myriad stories that surround one festival 😉 My favourite of the ones surrounding Holi, is the story of Prahlad, son of the Demon-king Hiranyakashyapu. How’s that for a tongue-twister eh? 😉
Well, in manner of all Demons – old & new, this one too got so full of himself, that he declared that the World should worship only Him and none of the 36 million odd Gods that were around. However he harboured a fervent devotee of the Lord Vishnu (The Protector), in his own home, a fact that was like a humungous thorn in his demon-hide! The young prince Prahlad was pious and steadfast and under The Lord’s protection – a fact that saved him from several attempts on his Life. I think his Dad once tried to have him trampled to death by a mad bull elephant – NOT cool! Finally King H called on his evil sister (I wonder if she was a twin), conveniently named Holika (you see where this is going?) for help in killing his son. This is why I say – Family is overrated much 😛
Holika had a magical cloak (move over Harry!), that protected her from Fire. Supercool methinks! So anyway, she sat on a burning pyre, and on her lap sat Prince Prahlad, calmly meditating on The Lord’s name. I’m telling you – Meditation is the way to go People! And Lo and Behold (God, I’ve been dying to use that expression!), the cloak miraculously flew off her and onto the Prince, saving him. Meanwhile Holika was Toast! I must confess I feel a little sad for her, but then I’ve always enjoyed the Demon in me 😉 But for the rest of the goody goody World – All’s Well that Ends Well! Good once again conquers Evil and one more festival is added to the ever-lengthening list 🙂 And for those of you who are interested in the end of the story – The Lord Vishnu appears in the form of a lion-man, grabs the evil King, sits on the threshold and literally tears his heart out!! Oh yeah – Beware the Vengeful God People 😛 Then the good Prince P becomes the good King P and everyone is happy except the dead and we all know they don’t count!
The purpose of the tale, other than it took me down memory lane and was fun to write 😉 is to explain why we light a huge Bonfire on the night before Holi, and call it Holika! It signifies as always the triumph of Good and a phoenix-like renewal from the ashes of loss. I wonder if Rowling ever read this story? 😛 Last night we witnessed our very own Holika and she was pretty fiery 🙂 And although playing with colours traditionally follows the Holika, times they are a-changing my friends. We played with colours yesterday morning, because it was a Sunday and so – convenient 🙂 It was fabulously fun though and Junior who’s been terrified of playing before, was happy to smear colours on us and himself and even willing to be drenched by water guns 😀 some of which by the way, could easily be mistaken for army-issue! He’s growing up and it makes me a little teary, but well – c’est la vie.
In other weekend news – finally began Steinbeck’s East of Eden and am already half-living in the Salinas valley 🙂 I’m just about a 50 pages in and already I know this is going to be an unforgettable saga of gargantuan proportions. Sorry for the floweriness 😛 Have been wanting to use ‘gargantuan’ for ages too 😉 And so on to Mr. Monkton…I chose this image because it reminded me of how ‘In the Groove’ we were yesterday – dancing to the latest Bollywood numbers, coloured faces grinning maniacally, carefree and happy! It was a good feeling! A Wonderful feeling 😀 I FELT it! And it’s very clear that Ms. Bunny feels it too 😀
Happy Monday People!
May you always find COLOUR when you need it 😀
H is for Happiness 
“…and everyone is happy except the dead and we all know they don’t count!” You must have been feeling pretty darn cheeky 😉 The groove bunny suits your writing tone well today! How fun 🙂
“…this one too got so full of himself, that he declared that the World should worship only Him and none of the 36 million odd Gods that were around.” Not sure this is limited to demons! I’m pretty sure this is how every monotheistic religion works!
Okay, I’ll quit stealing your words now and contribute my own. How cool and Junior enjoyed the colours this year! I’d love to go take photos of it, but not participate so much myself. I’m not a germophobe or cleanophile (which my browser insists are both made up words), but I think getting splashed is not for me. Have you heard of the color run? It’s a 5k race where participants end up looking like yous twos at the end 🙂 (I’ve skipped it on account of the curmudgeonliness.)
On a photo note – what were your moon-shooting conditions? Dark sky with lots of contrast or more blue like in my photos? And what lens? And you know, all that stuff 🙂 Love the quote you paired with it. I’ve shared that thought before! (But did you know that people in the southern hemisphere see some different constellations!! What a revelation that was!)
LOL Heather…you and Saks are so spot on with my mood 😉 Feeling very impish! And saucy…ooh I love that word – saucy! It must be Steinbeck’s influence…words are as wax in his very excellent pen, or should that read mind? Have you read East of Eden? If not…you should…there’s a character Cathy Ames who I’m sure is the mother or at least an ancestor of the inimical Amy from Gone Girl 😛 I think at some point I’m going to have to eat my words about the Classics being overrated – more’s the pity 😉
And look at you with all you’re wording skills! And they both apply so fittingly to my Mom – she’s a germophobe and a cleanophile if ever there was one 😛 Oh wait…she can also be the epitome of curmudgeonliness – 3/3!! Are you guys related 😉 A colour run – I think I wouldn’t mind the colour so much but the run…now that is just unfathomable to good ole couch potato me! Actually Holi this year kept reminding me of the Tomatina festival in Spain – all squishy and sticky and wet if you like that sort of thing.
Lets see…I used my 300mm Zoom for all my moon shots, coz the sky was uninteresting (dull grey/blue) as are the surroundings. Just buildings that do not make even for an interesting silhouette
We have none of the brilliant midnight blues that you do…I think it’s coz of all the pollution 😦 Glad you liked the quote. I thought it cool coz we had just spoken about sharing the same moon 🙂 And as I type…I realise I must get out the telescope we got for Junior and have a peep! I’m blaming it on you with all this talk of constellations 😛 Now I’ll have to go Google!!
I haven’t read East of Eden. I have to take the classics one at a time, with other stuff interspersed. Things get too heavy, you know? 😉 I just read “Lucifer’s Hammer” which was kind of a thought experiment about what would happen if a comet struck. Spoiler alert: it wouldn’t be good! (But the dead don’t count, right?)
I don’t think your mom and I are related – after all, I’m only a curmudgeon, not a cleanophile (well, slightly) or a germophobe (not really at all). But stranger things have happened. I certainly don’t look Irish/Scottish, but that’s what my family tree says!
I used my 300mm zoom lens for my moon shots, though I wasn’t zoomed all the way in, and I didn’t crop much beyond straightening horizons. My images had a weird thing with the moon, though: a yellow line at the top and a red line around the bottom. No idea why: the shot was in focus 😦
I had forgotten that you don’t see blue skies at night in the city. Lots of purple and pink and orange from all the lights though. Pretty in its own way – like a bit of a permanent sunset 🙂
No they don’t 😉 I’m taking it nice and slow with Steinbeck – not only from choice but from necessity. It’s the only way I will preserve my sanity!
That’s interesting about the lines on the moon. Did you edit them out? I can’t see them in the pic. Maybe it’s Ms. Luna putting on some sort of show? Light refracting through the dust of space in all sorts of angles?
This morning she stayed until well past 7 am – Ms. Luna did! I woke early and took a few shots from my balcony…it was so peaceful and just the right amount of cool. Just the kind of start I need in the mornings 🙂
Hiranyakashyapu…there, I said it! And it twisted my tongue quite pleasantly too!
“I think his Dad once tried to have him trampled to death by a mad bull elephant – NOT cool!” <———haahahah!!
Had a good laugh over your inimitable style discoursing on ye olde gods! Oh, and the impishness is unmistakable! 😉
As usual I'm reading your Monday post on Tuesday! 😛 Happy to report that your truly is happily grooving to Grooveshark now….blaring beautiful music on speakers so I can hear it in every room….hubby is away, so the mouse (me) can play!
LOL 😀 M…no fair…you just typed it!! I will see audio proof please before I spare you from further wanton impishness 😛 Our Gods I tell you – a source of unending amusement 😉
I can see you are on FB 😀 For some reason Grooveshark will not play for me 😦 so I click on the Youtube links below that do! Had a field day yesterday with El Condor Pasa!
Hi Harsha
Happy holi (belated) . I just read an article Why women still can’t have it all. thought you may like it. There is also ated talk but little boring.
I love your son’s smile.
Mita
Thanks Mita 🙂 Will check it out…I think I’ve read it recently on FB. How are you doing? Are you in Goa? How are the girls and Guru? Will be in Goa from the 24 – 28th of March for spring break. If you are there, would love to meet up!