A poem by Jayati Pandya

Every festival stands for and symbolizes various life lessons. Holi – rightly called ‘the festival of colours’ – as per Hindu mythology is yet another celebration of the victory of truth over deceit. ‘HAPPY HOLI’ is about introspecting and reaching our own truth beyond the layers of pretence we live under.

This Holi try the other way round,

wash yourself off the colours,

the fake colours.

There are layers and layers of different shades,

shades so subtle,

you almost forget they are even on you.

And just when you feel, you have washed them all off,

try another wash,

splash some more water.

The colours indeed make you look Beautiful,

Smart, Successful, Sensitive, Loving, Intelligent –

every adjective you like associating yourself with.

Drop them all.

And once the colours are all gone,

you will see the dirt, the grime,

the murk that is there,

that the colours were hiding

but that was always there.

Wash that off as well, this Holi.

And what shines beneath

is then your true colour, your shade…

Live its vibrance to the fullest.

HAPPY HOLI!!