By: Hussain Mir
New Delhi: Festival of colours, popularly known as Holi, in Hinduism. It is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) of the Hindu month of Phalguna, which falls in late February or March. As the winter comes to an end and spring arrives, the festival celebrates the triumph of friendship and love as well as the triumph of good over evil.
On the occasion of Holi, the hindu people throw colored powders and water at one other, representing joy, unity, and the regeneration of life. During the celebration, a variety of colours are utilised to convey love, joy, and other feelings as well as well wishes. Red (gulal), yellow, blue, green, pink, orange or saffron, and purple are the most commonly used colours during Holi. They all have profound significance.
The most popular colour during Holi is red, which signifies passion and love. Love is symbolised by the colour red. The romantic love narrative between two Hindu gods, Krishna and Radha, is the basis for the use of this colour during Holi.
While the Yellow signifies triumph over evil and is a happy occasion. Thus, in order to show their joy during Holi, individuals throw yellow. It is also thought to have therapeutic properties.
Ganesha, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Krishna are among the many Indian gods who wear yellow garments.Additionally, beyond its rituals and symbols, Holi promotes forgiveness and inclusivity, urging people to put aside their differences and accept the humanity that unites all people.
It acts as a reminder of how love and compassion can triumph over hardship and create ties of understanding and friendship. However, in India this festival of colors turns bloody year after year, with deaths, destruction, vandalism violence, and cases of harassment being witnessed.
Known for its the largest democracy in the world, sectarian violence has often surged during Hindu religious festivals in recent years. On sacred occasions like Holi, Thousands of Hindu people frequently march towards Muslim areas and mosques brandishing tridents, swords, and firearms.
They play anti muslim religious songs and call for violence against Muslims and chanting hate slogans. Keeping in view the violence against muslims in India on the festival of Holi, 189 mosques in UP, the most dominated muslim state in India, have been covered with tarpaulin to protect the splash of Holi colors and violence against muslim minority.
Separately, the same initiatives were in Sambhal, a famous city in India’s Uttar Pradesh where ten mosques and three in Aligarh were also covered. The drone-equipped surveillance was conducted throughout the state’s sensitive districts, and the local administration has set up barricades along the routes of Holi processions with the installation of multiple CCTV cameras.
According to Shahjahanpur SP Rajesh S, in order to ensure security, the larger procession was divided into three zones and eight sectors, with approximately 100 magistrates deployed. Additionally, police have taken preventive action against 2,423 individuals to dissuade potential troublemakers, he said.
The local government’s decision to cover mosques during Holi in Uttar Pradesh has drawn harsh criticism from Maulana Sajid Rashidi, the president of the All India Imam Association, stating that there is a “conspiracy” to undermine Muslims and incite hooligans.
Rashidi strongly condemned the directive, saying it was “unconstitutional” to attack Muslims and issue directives in the name of mosques. “ It is unconstitutional to target Muslims and issue directives in the name of mosques. This is a plot to incite hooligans and weaken Muslims. I denounce this initiative,” Rashidi added.
Continuous violence
The 45-year-old victim, Sharif, lived close to Sadar’s Qasim Nagar Rabbanna Mosque, in Uttar Pradesh.Two months ago, he came home from Saudi Arabia, where he was employed as a driver. While leaving for prayers, he saw a group of Hindu people enjoying Holi close to Mohalla Kashif Ali Sarai Chungi Power House, on his way to the mosque from his ancestral home in Mohalla Kanji.
The group tossed colours on him, he objected. But they did it again, which sparked a furious tension that swiftly turned into physical assault and Sharif fainted on ground.He was rescued by bystanders sitting on a platform and providing him water.
After a few moments, he died on the spot on 14th March. muslims in the area who were furious hit the streets to demand that the Hindu attackers should be arrested right away.
However, Unnao Police, in a social media post, stated, “Kotwali Sadar police took the body into custody and conducted a postmortem with videography by a panel of doctors.
The postmortem report cites cardiac arrest as the cause of death, with no injury marks found on the body. The police are thoroughly investigating all other aspects of the case.
Another 64 year-old man in Madhya Pradesh’s Maihar district died after being attacked for protesting against loud music being played during Holi. According to police, the incident happened Friday night in Mankisar village, which is under the jurisdiction of Ramnagar police station.
Deepu Kewat was celebrating Holi by playing loud music on a DJ, which is a common term for sound amplifiers. Shankar Kewat, his neighbour, asked him to slow down the music since his kids were preparing for examination.
In response to this, Deepu and five of his kin brutally attacked Shankar and his family, including father Munna Kewat.
The official said that Munna Kewat fell on the ground and was later declared dead when he was brought to a nearby hospital. The police had booked Deepu and five of his relatives for murder.
Harassment on Holi and violation of legal provisions In India, it is common for women to be the targets of sexual harassment and catcalling during Holi festival. Not all, many use festivals as an excuse or tool to harass females by chanting popular slogans: Holi Hai toh Bura Na Mana? It translates to “ it’s a Holi, don’t take it otherwise,”Year after year muslims across different states witnessed a number of incidents of molestation, violence, and harassment, particularly women folk on such festivals becoming easy targets.
One of the Japanese female tourists was harassed and manhandled in broad daylight on 11 March 2023 in Delhi Paharganj. Surrounded by group men and smeared a colour on her, one of them smashing eggs. She felt uncomfortable, the whole incident was filmed and went viral on social media.
After leaving India, the female tourist claimed in a series of tweets that she went out with a large group to a Holi after learning that it was unsafe for women to go alone during the Holi celebrations.
Though the woman had not filed any complaint, Delhi police arrested three persons in this connection.Despite continuous harassment against women folk on such festivals, there is still hope. It is illegal in India to forcefully apply colour to someone, especially when it involves mistreating women.
Advocate Utsav Shukla, also known as “Legal Doctor” said that abusing women in the name of a festival can land you in jail. He said that “Under Section 75, Sexual Harassment and Section 79 Word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of women, the offender can face 3 years in prison and a fine and if a video of you forcibly applying colour to a woman on Holi goes viral on social media or if the woman files a complaint against you.
There are other several provisions in Indian Constitution, like section 268 of the Indian Penal Code, which states that harassing women during festivals or gatherings by mistreating them, obstructing their way, making lewd gestures, using offensive language, or taking advantage of the crowd is illegal.
Offenders shall be fined and/or jail time. POSH Act, 2013 which states that a complaint may be made under the sexual harassment of women at workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act if an employee acts inappropriately towards a female co-worker during Holi celebrations at work.
Critics believe that under the BJP’s leadership, fundamentalist Hindu groups have become more confident and are using Hindu festivals for political interests.
It is pertinent to mention here the significant decline in the protection of human rights for India’s 200 million muslims, going unnoticed under BJP led Government. India’s top notch institutions have mostly ignored the situation, which further led to systematic discrimination.
How does Holi turn into unholy? Communal riots and fighting have long been a cause of concern because the event (Holi) was previously celebrated by Muslim monarchs, including the much-maligned Mughals, and was praised by Muslim poets in songs that are still sung by our classical greats.
Earlier in India, people from different schools of thought and traditions joined together to celebrate Holi in harmony, making it a melting pot of traditions and cultures.
In the spirit of social solidarity, temples, mosques, and churches in Indian towns and villages welcome both worshippers and revellers. Holi used to provide a platform for fostering interfaith understanding and mutual respect.
People from many religious backgrounds gather to celebrate Holi in multiethnic cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata in an atmosphere of respect and unity.
It is an occasion to celebrate customs and cultivate a sense of solidarity amidst differences. However, with the passage of of time, muslim minority in India became prime targets on “Holi festival” According to historian Harbans Mukhia, the first observed communal riot in India took place around Holi in Ahmedabad in 1713–1714. like the rest of us, would not have been aware of this, but he was undoubtedly aware that in 2022, a mosque in Sambhal was defaced with colour during a Holi dispute.
Muslims have long participated in Holi celebrations in the North regions of Uttar Pradesh. But ever since Yogi Adityanath became Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister in 2017, Hindu holidays have devolved into obscene displays of anti-Muslim triumphalism.
With tight security, mosques are covered with tarpaulin on Holi so that Hindu celebrants can paint them whatever they choose under Adityanath’s leadership.
Just prior to his first Holi as chief minister, which also happened to fall on a Friday, Adityanath stated in a 2018 speech that he would not allow anything to lessen the joy of the occasion, saying that Holi is celebrated once a year, so Friday prayers should be bit delayed, let Holi celebrate first.
This year the On Holi, more than 200 traffic accident cases were reported in the emergency rooms of government-run institutions in Lucknow, including Balrampur Hospital, Lok Bandhu Raj Narayan Hospital.
According to officials, a number of individuals were caught for drunk driving. India’s capital New Delhi this year fined 7,230 challans issued on Holi, which is a significant increase from the 3,589 violations that were reported in 2024.
Although Holi is a joyful occasion, there have been cases where drunk driving and consumption of alcohol has resulted in mishaps or disputes.
The police closely monitored the situation, issued directives in different states, aimed for peaceful Holi. But nevertheless, deaths and violence on holi continues to remain cause of concern for law enforcement agencies of India.
Hussain Mir is an independent journalist and Media researcher based in Jammu and Kashmir. He can reached at hussainmir4513@gmail.com
