INDIANS DISPLAYED THEIR COLOURS

Images taken on Wednesday 11th March 2009

THE street leading to Ber Serai, Munikra and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) south of New Delhi was virtually empty on Wednesday morning, save for few auto rickshaws the traffic was dry. Hundreds of youths had converged on Ganga hostel in JNU, as part of celebrations marking the holi festival of colours.

Amid the political, economic and security challenges facing the Indian sub continent, the Indian youths did not allow frustrations to spoil their day. While a lot of young people danced to the sweet tunes coming from the music provided JNU students, others were busy gulping the local ‘bangka’ drink. When I asked some of the youths how the celebrations started, some of them told me that was not quite important. ‘ Lets dance…’ one man told me as he hurriedly walked his way in the crowd of dancers chanting ‘ happy holi .. happy holi ...

The likes of Marian from Spain who was a guest lecturer at JNU joined the crowd

Indian have been marking the holi festival centuries ago, Sayed Salahiddin a post graduate student at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication said the festival offers the people the unique to reunite. On this occasion, people who were not in talking terms would reunite and forget about the past. Because globalization has taken over norms and values, some young Indians believe the holi festival has taken a new dimension. ‘Some of our elders believe the whole holi festival has been diluted, things have changed drastically’ said student at Delhi University.

Some lecturers at JNU went further to throw a small reception

By and large, hundreds of youths else where in Mumbai also took to streets chanting ‘ holi, holi’, with the Kasab trial, and the security of the city after the 26/11 attacks Mumbairians were not dampened about is going to happen. ‘We want the terrorist to know that we are happy, we cannot make us sad’ said youth from Mumbai.

Charu Ratnu from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication said one of the most significant issues about the holi festival is reconciliation. And for her the fact people who had grudges against each other do mend mences on holis, the event is significant.

Whether the festival has succeeded in reuniting the people over the years is another subject for a debate, one thing is certain, Indians have different colours, too bad if you pass judgment.

My class mate Jesus Hector Betancourt also had a good time on Wednesday.