Happy Holi!

Wood and straw have been stacked together to make the Holi fire which will be burned this spring evening. Our beautiful full moon will be sad to turn down her face upon Mother Earth tonight to see so many logs burn, which means fewer trees will stand on our soil.

These will not even be made into furniture but reduced to ashes in the name of religion within a few hours. Thousands of bonfires send toxic fumes into the air. The old leaves and twigs to fuel this fire rather be recycled and used as compost; that would make me happier.

There are many people and places which live with little water. If water is an essential aspect of Holi, let’s try to send them water as summer scorches India. We may encourage rainwater harvesting. Instead of wasting water, maybe we could equally try to share this precious natural resource.

Turmeric, besan [chickpea flour], wheat flour, vegetable and fruit paste may be lightly smeared on faces which may act as a facial. That’ll be an eco-friendly Holi and we don’t have to wash toxic irritants off our skin. There are people who have eyesight problems or turn blind when harmful Holi colours are splashed into their eyes.

Holi is about universal brotherhood and sisterhood. Respecting that we may add colour to people’s lives figuratively and literally. Teach kids and adults drawing and painting, gift them stationery to colour with, paint houses in dire need of it, etc. Donate boxes of sweets to the poor and arrange for cultural festivals. That’s a Happy Holi to me.

#holi, #holicharity, #painting, #colouring, #holihai2022, #kholdarkhol, #holijoy, #holi, #festivalofcolours, #holika, #bonfire, #radhakrishna, #ecofriendlycolours, #happyholi, #laglojedol