This Festival of colors

This Festival of love

This Festival of Spring

In Gurudev's Rabindranath Tagore's land in a celebration of unity, confluence, song and music beyond religion and creed

Where The world (Vishwa) comes together in our beautiful country (Bharati)

A day to revel in the Colors of Life!

Whatever be our mythological significances for Holi, the burning of all evil in the form of Holika or the sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu who tried to kill Prahlad but was consumed in the same fire, or the celebration of Radha Krishna's love in Brajdham or the Shiva Shakti Kamadeva Rati legend, Holi is a celebration of the good in our lives and of mending relationships, forgiving and celebrating Love.

We traveled to Shantiniketan, the evening before Holi, drenched in the almost full moon bathing the large tracts of empty fields, the only spoiler being the traffic jam, since the whole world seemed to have been heading there.

And indeed it is celebrated like a homecoming, where old friends come together for a reunion of sorts reminding each other about colors past and colors present, seeking out the rainbow of life.

The red of Palash and Shimul adding hues to the yellow of Spring.

Unlike other places where white is the norm for Holi, Shantiniketan celebrates the advent of Basanto or Spring in Basanti which is a shade of yellow.

But it's not just happy bonhomie of smearing colors here.

It is the joyous bliss of song and dance, the grace of movements, the beauty of music.

There is Baitanik in the evening prior to Holi and Prantik from early morning, musical events inside the campus of Viswa Bharati. It's only after the musical events get over, then that the people smear Abir (gulal) on one another, touching the feet of elders, blessing the youngsters with a tilak of colors and colorful cheeks.

No dirty water holi here.

Dry Aabir, the beats of the dholak and greeting each other in unity.

That was the spirit of BasantoUtsav at Shantiniketan.

And in the evening, under the full moon amidst the trees of Khowai and on the banks of Kopai, there can only be music together.

Groups of people playing the guitar, singing.

Groups of Bauls playing the ektaara, belting out the trance like melody ...

Not a single artificial light,

Not even a candle,

Just the moonlight and the moon seemed close enough to hug.

In another part of Shantiniketan someone read poems of love.

Someone else chatted her heart out with a new friend who seemed like old A theatre group enacted their new production in an open field.

Some friends got together and slow cooked some delicious food on open fire.

The aroma wafted by us...
Shantiniketan
BadantoUtsav
In all its forms, colors fragrances and melody
In a coming together of different shades.

The rainbow in the cosmos.

May the colors of life and the spirit of Gurudev continue to bring people back to the important lesson of unity, confluence and love.

Photo credits: Banner Left: indianexpress.com; Banner Center: goseekandhide.com; Banner Right: goseekandhide.com.

This Festival of colors

This Festival of love

This Festival of Spring

In Gurudev's Rabindranath Tagore's land in a celebration of unity, confluence, song and music beyond religion and creed

Where The world (Vishwa) comes together in our beautiful country (Bharati)

A day to revel in the Colors of Life!