Holi Celebrations

While much of the West celebrates this holy Easter holiday, much of India is celebrating something Holi as well. It's called well, Holi. And this morning we awoke to shrieks of laughter as young and old chased one another through the streets throwing handfuls of brightly colored "colors" onto one another. Ben left the house for a mere two minutes and wasn't even able to return untouched from the gaiety (after being covered in colors, Ben was asked to join for liquor. He politely refrained). Holi is a Hindu holiday said to be a joyful time of celebrating good over evil. The story? A King became proud and wanted to be worshipped like a god. His son refused, as he was already a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. So the boy was made to sit on his aunt Holika's lap as it was said that fire could not touch her. But when the aunt and boy were lit alive in the center of a bonfire, she was burnt to ashes while the boy lived! Obviously he was saved by Lord Vishnu and so good triumphed evil.

There is a ring of laughter and cheer in the air today. Maybe even around the world, as the West celebrates Easter Sunday's theme of triumph over evil, death choking finale'.

I guess the question remains for me... when we the people celebrate our various cherished holidays, do we understand what we're doing or is it the motion of tradition? And do we have purpose when we celebrate or is it just another reason to gather, be it to search for eggs or throw the colors?

I challenge myself with these thoughts.