Holi is a festival meant to spread love and happiness through the use of colors. It is very disheartening to say that the festival has become a tool to harass people without their consent in the name of festivity. Holi has turned into a license for abusers. The harassment is not just limited to the women, even the men are equally suffering the repercussions. It’s too scary for the common man to step out of their house on that day.
The festival has become a fearful nightmare for many. Women are afraid to step out of their houses due to the fear of catcalling and abuse. Not just that, last year, some hooligans threw colors at the mosque. As a result, the authorities have decided to cover mosques thoroughly. Both communities jointly agreed to it. It's saddening that certain groups of people try to create tensions between two communities, with the common people always being the sufferers.
In 2023, a video clip of a Japanese woman went viral on social media, where a group of people were forcibly applying colors to her face and body. Years pass, but the situation does not change. Recently, an actress in Mumbai filed a complaint against her co-star forcibly putting colors on her and asserting that none could save her. The worst part here is that the man is neither scared nor guilty of his act. This incident also reveals that class or environment does not really change the situation and does not really protect women from these kinds of undesirable encounters. Holi serves as a palliative to conceal the offences committed by the harassers.
According to a survey by Ideas for India, a platform for economics and policy sponsored by International Growth Center researchers, assaults against women increased by 170 percent during Holi compared to other comparable days. In 2024, there was also a rise of more than 160 percent in cases of sexual violence and 140 percent in cases of violence against women (VAW) during Holi.
The serious concern is finding the core reason behind this mentality of not worrying about consent. Who is actually to blame? Is the glorification of eve teasing culture of Bollywood which builds the confidence of the abusers throughout the years? The popular song, “Bura na mano, Holi hai”, which translates to “Do not be offended, it’s just holi”, explains the argument to a great extent. Bollywood has been romanticizing harassment for a long time. Holi songs become a tool for making harassment equivalent to showcasing love.
Another serious concern about Holi is the forcible consumption of Bhang at Holi parties. There have been various incidents that are reported where victims were given Bhang without their knowledge. These kinds of cases bridge the gap between the safety of people, be it men or women and the celebrations of the festival.
Religious rivalry is also brewing up around the festival. Anuj Kumar Chaudhary, the Deputy Superintendent of Police in Sambhal, recommended that Muslims should avoid going out on the streets if they did not want to be colored because Holi fell on Jumma namaz. While there are fifty-two Fridays in a year, Holi only occurs once. He asserted that Muslims wait for Eid much as Hindus wait for Holi, suggesting that one holiday is more significant than the other. Instead of promoting harmony within the community, such utterances widen the gap and make it abundantly evident that minorities must fit in or be ignored.
These incidents put people from both communities in a confused state. Whereas, the leaders play their game in between the clashes of religion.
There are always two sides to every coin; it’s up to us which side we choose. There is a Pakistani desert town of Mithi, where people celebrate Holi and Ramadan together. The Hindus prepare meals for the occasion of Iftar, while the Muslims prepare for the Holi celebrations. It is high time for us to understand that it's not the people who want to be divided, it's those few warmongers who make the situation worse by setting their own agendas and plans for their own benefit.
People should not forget that Holi is a celebration of happiness and the arrival of spring. It's better to celebrate it while keeping the importance of peace and harmony in mind. Not letting the hooligans and harassers decrepit the holy festival.
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