[Reader-list] Hindus, Muslims celebrate Lucknow's 'Holi Baraat'

[Kshmendra Kaul]

Just thinking aloud.
 
Holi is a festivity that finds it's roots in Hindu heritage. Yet, overwhelmingly at most places, in the Holi  celebration there is no brazen religiosity involved. Holi presents itself as charmingly secular in inviting participation.
 
Perhaps that is why Muslims find it easiest to join Hindus in Holi celebrations as compared to any other Hindu festivity.
 
Holi also lends itself very conveniently for Muslims to make a socio-political gesture of sharing the festival celebratory joys of the Hindus.
 
Such symbolism is not very meaningful if it is directed only by the Muslims towards the Hindus.
 
The question in my mind is how should Hindus be reciprocating for similar heartfelt gestures and also in making socio-political statements. The have to. They must.
 
Unfortunately the Muslims do not have any similar public festivities, at least none anywhere close to the rather hedonistic celebration of Holi. 
 
Perhaps:
 
- More widespread participation of Hindus in presenting 'chaadar' at the shrines of Muslim saints all over India and not confined to just a few like Ajmer Sharif
 
- Hosting by Hindus, at the local community level, of the 'iftihar' (breaking fast during Ramadhan) and not just attending 'iftihar dinners' hosted by fasting Muslims.
 
- Appropriately turned out Hindu contingent participating in the 'Zuljinah' procession (Shias)
 
- At the local community level presenting "Eid" gifts to the Muslim children
 
Just thinking aloud.
 
Kshmendra
 

--- On Wed, 3/11/09, Yousuf <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Yousuf <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com>
Subject: [Reader-list] Hindus, Muslims celebrate Lucknow's 'Holi Baraat'
To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2009, 2:09 PM

Hindus, Muslims celebrate Lucknow's 'Holi Baraat'
11 Mar 2009, 1310 hrs IST, IANS

LUCKNOW: Amid shouts of "Holi hai", a large number of Hindus and
Muslims came together here on Wednesday for a 40-year-old practise of jointly
celebrating the festival of colours in the old quarter.

Dancing to the beat of drums, the revellers assembled around 10 a.m. for the
procession that began from the Koneshwar temple, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Lalji Tandon said.

People walked for about four kilometres. "Holi baraat sets an example of
communal harmony," Tandon said.

A resident of Chowk locality, Tandon has been taking part in the function for
the last 40 years.

The night before, Muslims in the area collected heaps of rose petals and
garlands that were showered on Hindus as they arrived for the celebrations
Wednesday, residents said.

"In response we (Hindus) garlanded them and exchanged pleasantries. This
is how we have been celebrating Holi for years," said Anurag Mishra, one of
the organisers.

The procession passed through various localities of Old Lucknow as more and
more people joined it.

"Throughout the route, Holi Milans were organised where sweets and special
paan were offered to the revellers," said one resident, Shabi Haider.

The multi-community procession has not been discontinued even once during the
past 40 years.

"Even when there was communal tension following the demolition of the
Babri Masjid (in 1992), Holi in the Chowk area was celebrated with usual gaiety
and gusto," said Ritesh Dwivedi, another resident. 


      
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