TODAY, Guyanese from all walks of life, more particularly Hindus, will celebrate the ancient Spring Festival Phagwah, also called Holi or the Festival of Colours.
The story of the Holi has been passed down from generation to generation, and is a celebration of good over evil.
It has its genesis in the story of a tyrannical king, Hiranyakashyapu, who tried all he could to kill his son Prahalad because the boy refused to worship him as a god.
According to legend, the king, overwhelmed by wealth, lust, deceitfulness, and arrogance, became blind to his real purpose in life, and eventually thought of himself to be God, and the only one worthy of worship.
His son Prahalad, given in divine birth, while recognising the importance of obedience to parents, also recognised that no mortal should be treated as a divine being.
King Hiranyakashyapu’s action flourished as it happened at a time when his Kingdom was in moral decay, but even with this, his son remained a devotee of Lord Vishnu (the Sustainer of the Universe).
And the purpose of his birth was to help correct the unrighteousness that prevailed, allowing for the restoration of decency, piety, and uprightness, which were lost to arrogance, greed, and lust.
In circumstances of the latter, God advents himself as summarised in the Holi scripture, the Bhagavat Gita (Songs of the Divine) Chapter: four; verses: six and seven.
“Whenever there is decay of righteousness and there is exaltation of unrighteousness, then I myself come forth for the protection of good, for the destruction of evildoers, for the sake of firmly establishing righteousness; I am born from age to age.”
Prince Prahalad’s birth was not a case of happenstance but one geared at restoring God’s authority, which eventually saw the advent of the Lord.
The despotic king was granted a boon by Brahma (the Creator) that he would not be killed by any living or non-living creature created by him (Brahma); will not die within or outside his residence during the day or night, on the ground or in the sky, or by any weapon; and have no worthy rival in the battlefield.
These powers made the king change from being a devotee of God to believing that he was no longer a mortal and had become God.
Never failing in his promise, and always a preserver of righteousness, the Lord visited King Hiranyakashyapu as a half-man, half-lion at twilight (which is neither day nor night); on the verge of his courtyard (which is neither indoors nor out); and put the king on his thighs (which is neither earth nor space). And using his nails (neither animate nor inanimate) as weapons he slayed the evil king.
In doing so, the Lord established that unrighteousness, arrogance, haughtiness, and all other evils have no permanent place in society or anywhere else on earth.
Regardless of power and stature, all bad things must come to an end; and it is within this context that Phagwah is celebrated as the triumph of good over evil.
It also implores upon all to be clean in thoughts and actions since these are imperative for a transparent, progressive, and respectful society.
The celebration of good over evil is a celebration of unity, a celebration of togetherness, and a celebration of courage to shun evil acts.
These help us to understand that similarities are more important than differences in this transitory life and all should be humble in the presence of the Lord.
Today, Guyanese from all walks of life will be smearing each other in a variety of colours in much fun and frolic.
These colours are symbols in the sense that there is unity in diversity, but a more salient message would be for all to be like Prahalad—remain humble and always eschew evil. Happy Holi to all!
