Even though Holi or Dol festival brought happiness to everyone at the beginning of March much like previous years, this year is a little special. The colour of Holi is expressed as a symbol of joy and happiness in people’s lives. But basically, the Holi festival is followed after the Dola Yatra. Usually in West Bengal people celebrate Dol Jatra Utsav (festival) before the day of the Holi celebration. But if you follow the mythology, the history of Dol Yatra is associated with Shri Krishna. On the other hand, the history of Holi is connected with Prahlad, Hiranyakashipu and his sister Holika. Also on the arrival of spring people celebrate the night before Holi with bonfires and the burning of wooden sticks (Nyara Pora/Holika Dahan).
These may be the stories of every year but what is so special about this Holi in 2023?
First of all, it is better to say that Holi is a festival of colours. These colours are necessary for human life to live actively because, like the rainbow, all colours describe all human situations. Along with feelings and emotions like anger, sadness, and happiness, different religions, race, politics, castes, gender, and the language of society are all different aspects of the colours of human life.
Meanwhile, Women’s Day is in the month of March 2023 which falls on the same day as the Holi festival. As usual, this day is celebrated with love and respect for all the daily struggles and self-sacrifice of women. I said earlier that ‘gender’ exists as part of different colours of society. Forgetting that gender discrimination, all 364 male-dominated days of the year are excluded and this one special day is allotted as Women’s Day. Apart from this, various exhibitions and events are held to honour all the achievements and contributions of women in society. And to make that special day even more special, the Holi festival has also entered this year at the same time.
Then the question may arise, what is so special?
The speciality is in the mentality and humanity of mankind. The two poles of society are male and female, much like fire and water for example. But in today’s society, women are not given full respect or credit as in ancient times. Sometimes they are neglected financially and sometimes they are neglected physically or educationally in society. The Adi Shakti (Ancient Power) of the Puranas is a form of feminine energy, and although she is worshipped as a goddess today, women aren’t practically equally respected as such as goddesses.
It goes without saying that women are not given equal opportunities or identities as men get. In this scenario, the opposite case is also true, where along with men, women are also given equal or much more respect and credit in many cases. For example, in India, women are considered general or higher positions in the army nowadays. On the other hand, whether as the president of the country or as a scientist we can see women are carrying all the duties of society single-handedly. In today’s India, women are victorious in all fields & praised by all.
And the empowerment of women is being celebrated more or less in all the countries of the world, as a result of which, whether in this country or abroad, today, along with reputation, respect, love, and achievements, a unique identity of women has been developed in this human world. Holi is celebrated more or less equally in all countries of the world to welcome the arrival of spring.
That is exactly why 2023 brought two big issues together that day. It can be said that today in the court of the world, the fame and victory of women have been echoed with the colour of Holi and along with the spring, the world is welcoming women with joy.