HOLI, the festival of colour and love

‘Today is the day of our Holi festival, the festival of spring. In the midst of the fallen and sere leaves, nature is making preparations to mark the death- triumphing entry of a new life, to which the newly sprouted leaves bring their offerings of joy. On this occasion it will be met to associate the stirring of new life in the nation with that of the springtime.’ 
Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore – India’s national poet and author of India’s national anthem

On the auspicious occasion of Holi, the Indian festival of colours and love, we all have immense pleasure in wishing one and other boundless joy, happiness, prosperity, and love filled with myriad colours and glorious feelings!

The festival of Holi has its roots in the legend of Holika- the sister of the demon King Hiranyakashyap. The king considered himself to be invincible and ordained that he was to be worshipped as God. His order was, however, disobeyed by his own son Prahlad, who continued to faithfully worship Lord Vishnu. Maddened with anger by the insolence of Prahlad, Hiranyakashyap tried different ways and means to kill him, but to no avail. Finally, his sister Holika offered to help. She enjoyed the boon of not getting burnt by fire and so sat on a pyre with Prahlad on her lap. The irony is that, though Holika got scorched, Prahlad remained unharmed. The festival of Holi begins with the ritual of lighting a bonfire, known as Holika Dahan, to commemorate this event. This bonfire is sacred, and old and redundant things are burned in it to mark a new beginning.

The festival is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalgun according to the Hindu calendar and signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, the end of winter and for many in India and beyond its shores just a special festive day to meet others, play and laugh, eat and drink, forget and forgive and repair and renew ruptured relationships. The word ‘Holi’ comes from the word ‘hola‘ which means sacrifice. And the festival is a reminder that we must live our lives in a spirit of service and sacrifice. 

Holi also symbolises the triumph of our higher aspirations over our lower, base desires. It is the burning of our petty, material desires at the altar of our goal of self-development. Another important aspect of Holi is its joy, fun and merriment. During that day ever body is equal as there is no hierarchy when you play Holi.

Spirituality is about enjoying life to its fullest. The spiritual life is not about giving up our possessions but discovering higher, permanent joys. It is a path filled with serendipity and moments of sheer joy reflected in the life of Lord Krishna.

During Holi, Bhang (a mild preparation of marijuana made from young leaves and stems of the Indian hemp plant) is added to the Thandai for flavour, but to also enhance the spirit of the occasion.

To celebrate Holi, I brought French House Boucheron to India and collaborated in curating “Blue de Jodhpur”, the jewellery collection inspired by Jodhpur. I, along with His Highness the Maharaja of Marwar, Gaj Singh II hosted the whole press delegation from France during Holi and it was magical.

As a curator of art & culture between France and India and Head of Culture for the Europe- India Chamber of Commerce I presented the project of “Blue de Jodhpur” to His Highness, and it immediately appealed to the royal family. Louis de Heckeinheim, the director of Boucheron and I flew to Jodphur accompanied by Thiery Robert, Boucheron’s gemologist during the Sufi music festival which is held in Nagaur each year, and which inspired the collection Blue de Jodhpur. We also visited Mehrangargh Fort, Umaid Bhawan and Bal Samodh palaces.

His Highness is an avid patron in arts and culture and creating a contemporary image of India, and he agreed to be the official spokesman in Boucheron’s interpretation of India and the ‘Sun City’. He supported the aim to keep alive the connections that have linked Boucheron and the dignitaries of India since the 19^th century.

Asked about the collection, His Highness replied that the new collection is a contemporary interpretation of India and a vision that I greatly appreciate. Boucheron’s main motifs are to take the Indian heritage, maintain the tradition and create a modern twist. The collection is an accurate representation with many affinities. For example, Jodhpur is known as the ‘Sun City’ and Boucheron is a jeweler of the ‘City of Light’. Jodhpur is driven by the initiative to preserve its unique and artistic heritage. The jewels present accurate aspects of Jodhpur in each of the collection’s chapters.  At an artistic level, Jodhpur’s Garden & Cosmos collection represents two distinct styles of painting that originated in the city.

The reinterpretation of this artistic heritage is accurate through the nature and animal elements that are revealed in the collection’s Garden & Cosmos chapter. The Fleur de Lotus necklace is a holistic example of a tribute to the idyllic gardens of Jodhpur: delicate and detailed with harmonious colours. The collection keeps alive the combination of ancestral traditions and the modernist vision.

Its link of creating an international outlook for Rajasthan is impressive. This is represented through the combination of creating pieces inspired by Jodhpur through the four traditional chapters which are mixed with innovative and audacious materials such as marble and sand.

For me to have been part of this extraordinary journey with H.H Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Marwar and Boucheron has been a great honour. It all started at the Holi festival in Jodphur!

Courtesy The Sublime India Issue by Vissionaire.

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