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

[Kshmendra Kaul]

Dear Taraprakash
 
No issues with your definition of 'hedonism' once it is shorn of the negatives the word normally suggests. 
 
It is in the 'be merry' that we face the problem. Song, Dance (and sometimes Alcohol) seem to have become companion to many Hindu public festivities. All are missing from Muslim public festivities.  That is why I was looking for other forms of conveying "We value the joys you are celebrating and join you in them"
 
Yes mutual visits 'like attending birthday celebrations' used to be the norm. Used to be. There is a serious breach in it. Some, even if they want to do it are scared of being seen as doing it.
 
This, in my opinion, is due to the environment that has come to be created in the last few decades due to the corrupted propagation of both Hinduism and Islam and the various forms of terrorising in their name. Not to forget the Christians. Not to forget the social anarchists who under the garb of being Secular only deepen animosties by provoking people.
 
That is why I am looking for  not merely symbolic socio-political gestures but pro-active developement of interaction and mutuality in celebrations at widespread local community levels.   
 
Kshmendra

--- On Wed, 3/11/09, taraprakash <taraprakash at gmail.com> wrote:

From: taraprakash <taraprakash at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Hindus, Muslims celebrate Lucknow's 'Holi Baraat'
To: "Sarai" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2009, 7:16 PM

I wonder how you define hedonism. In not that negative sense of the word, 
hedonism is simple enjoyment: eat, drink and be merry. Hindus should visit 
Muslim houses during Eid celebrations. You get all of it, except the drinks 
served that day will not give you a hangover.
To have the best experience, don't go to return the favor of Holi but to be

with those who have reason to celebrate that particular day. Like people 
visit other people to attend their birth day celebrations.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kshmendra Kaul" <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com>
To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>;
<ysaeed7 at yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 5:48 AM
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Hindus, Muslims celebrate Lucknow's 'Holi
Baraat'


> 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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