Holi, popularly known as the Indian festival of colours, is celebrated in diverse ways across the country. There are many regional variances and generational differences regarding this festival. This article is all about the latter. Holi is celebrated with fervour, colours, and enthusiasm. For the most part, every childhood is marred by the sweet end of the exam season and the impatient wait to buy pichkaris (water guns) and gulaal (colours) with the arrival of the festival.
The significance of Holi and the story of the famous trio, i.e. Hiranyakashyap, Holika, and Prahlaad, is known to all. But there are many renditions of why Holi is celebrated and in some parts of the country, the festival even has a different name. Thus, we reached out to people from four different generations to bring this article, in all its authenticity, to our readers in order to trace and understand the four-generational timeline of how Holi has been celebrated over the years. We reached out to people ranging from four different generations to bring this article, in all its authenticity, to our readers. So, let us all go back in time and take a look at a four-generational timeline of how Holi has been celebrated over the years.
The 1940s
Believe it or not, there was a time when even water was a luxury, and its usage during Holi was an unheard practice. Colours were all naturally procured and emphasis was given more to the farming and ritualistic perspective. The farmers harvest their produce and burn a bit of it as an offering to the god. This burning of a bit of the produce is performed even in urban areas, with pyramid-like structures created with cow dung and other organic material that is burned a day prior to Holi. This is called Chhoti Holi (Small Holi) or Holika Dahan.
“There was simply no other way…”
-Source, Aged 80
The people gave more importance to a communal life where they sang songs together and celebrated the harvest season, considered as prosperity provided to people by the grace of God. A fifteen-day-long celebration was observed, with people visiting their neighbours and relatives and exchanging good wishes. The concept of sweet food was also not yet invented. There were some sweet dishes, but these were local and scarce.
To get a better perspective, we reached out to people from this generation. While talking to an 80-year-old man about how they celebrated Holi, he emphasised how important the idea of togetherness was. “There was simply no other way,” he said. That’s how strong the idea of community was. Gathering together and exchanging everything while singing traditional songs was the only way. There were various Jagrans (staying awake all night chanting hymns on the occasion of a fast, festival or religious festival, or similar occasion) too.
The 1970s
This era saw the rise of governmental reforms, development in the country, and a race towards alternative careers other than farming. People started to migrate in search of better living standards. This reduced the communal aspect, but people were still very much a part of the ‘big fat Indian family’ or joint families.
“Mithaio ka chalan nahi hota tha jyada. Utsah jyada hota tha, sadhan kam hote the. Hamare samay tak aate aate utsah bhi raha, sadahn bhi rahi.“
– Man, Aged 48
We got in touch with people born in the 1970s to get a better understanding of these times and they explained how the change in the concept of Holi was intertwined with government policies and the wave of globalisation. They said that before the 70s, “Mithaio ka chalan nahi hota tha jyada. Utsah jyada hota tha, sadhan kam hote the. Hamare samay tak aate aate utsah bhi raha, sadhan bhi rahi (There was not much trend in sweets. Enthusiasm was high, and resources were less. But our era got the luxury of both resources with enthusiasm).”
The concepts of playing Holi with colours, water, and keechad (dirt mixed with water) were introduced during this era. There was also a rise in the distribution of sweet foods. Children started mingling with each other, starting a new wave of celebration with people other than family members. Schools also started celebrating it on a small scale and, with the arrival of LPG reforms, an influx of Holi-specific goods could be seen in the markets. This purely cultural and agricultural festival saw the beginning of its commercialization during this stage. The fifteen-day celebration was reduced to a week of festivities.
The 2000s
Most of our readers belong to this age. Well, we were the ones that started the ‘colony wali Holi’ (the Holi played with the people of the colony) trend. Funds were collected before the festival, and all the prerequisite items for Choti Holi were brought from that fund. In some colonies and societies, even food was provided.
The morning started with each friend group trying to collect all their colours, pichkaris, and water balloons in one place, establishing a base and operating from there to win this war of water and colours. Such was the eagerness and enthusiasm that even trending pichkari models were debated upon and the best one was bought. Pakka colour and its use could be seen when students with tinted skins entered the school premises. The after-effects of playing Holi were compared by each child in great detail and the most colourful child was given the award of the coolest kid.
“Jhukaam to hota rahega, par Holi naa khelne dene ki saza beemar padne se bhi zyada behtar hai.”
– Student, Aged 19
Sometimes, Holi fell between the exam season, which elicited many groans and parental pressure to not partake in this festival due to fear of catching a cold. A student from my batch (Batch of 2024) rightfully said, “Jhukaam to hota rahega, par Holi naa khelne dene ki saza beemar padne se bhi zyada behtar hai.” (One might catch a cold at any time, but being grounded and not letting them play Holi was a fate worse than being sick). Although communal life took a back seat, the friendships grew stronger, neighbours became a home away from family, and the colony became the Haveli (a big home, usually occupied by Indian joint families). The festival was now only a two-three day-long event.
Today
Not much has changed, except that the NEP or the New Education Policy has arrived, a mass viral outbreak has occurred, the entrances to IITs, AIIMS & NLUs have gotten tougher and we have become the most populated country on the planet! In this post-covid era, children are usually enclosed in their homes and have the only option to play with their family members (mostly nuclear). The societies have grown bigger (visit any locality in Noida with A-H skyscraper buildings in just one colony), but the relationships have weakened. Nobody knows what goes on in building A or F. The children have to take permission, and parents are scared to let the child play alone due to their own valid reasons for growing security concerns.
In this age of hustle, some prepare for exams and a better future with no time to spare, whereas some work from home (WFH). For some, Holi has become a form of business, with events being organized and passes being distributed right from January. Families and friends go into groups to enjoy this festival — scanning their passes and coming back with smiles on their faces. A day well spent. But just a day, maybe the evening before it too. But that’s it, with lives returning to the same old hustle the moment it ends.
“Chahe jo bhi ho, Holi ke samay sabse jo milna julna hota hai, vo fir Diwali par hi dobaara ho paata hai.”
This is not a piece to show the superiority of one Holi over another or to establish any one period happier than the other. History shows that the 1940s-1970s was not the best era, with the most turbulent political upheavals, wars, and questionable human rights breaches. This is a simple yet important piece on the journey of Holi. How one of the most important festivals of this country has undergone drastic changes. How, with Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Holi ka Mahotsav has also seen better and worse days. But one thing that binds all these eras is the simple fact that we still smile as soon as the end of February arrives, and the air changes with the leaves.
The season of stepping on dry leaves to feel the satisfying crunch, that first use of fans after a colourless and dreary winter, and buying moth balls for keeping the garam kapde (clothes for the winter season) back into shelves meant for woollen clothes makes everyone’s heart race for some unknown reason. Holi might have changed, but the emotions are still the same. The emotions that have been passed through the generations and ages recognize each other in all ages. I can attest to this after speaking to the four different generations about Holi. Everyone gave a different account, but they all said the same thing by the end of each conversation, “Chahe jo bhi ho, Holi ke samay sabse jo milna julna hota hai, vo phir Diwali par hi dobaara ho paata hai.” (Anyways, Diwali is the only festival after Holi where we can meet everyone again like this.) Maybe that is all that Holi is, bringing people together.