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Holi: A festival for men


Since childhood, I loved playing with colours. When I was really tiny, all the cousins used to come over on the eve of Holi and we used to play on the terrace of our house with our little pichkaris and water balloons. When my parents moved to another city, I used to go to my maternal cousin’s house and all the kids of their locality used to play Holi in the playground. It was so much fun running around with those buckets and balloons in our hands.



Then I GREW UP and everything literally changed.

Suddenly I started feeling that this festival only belongs to men as I was feeling really unsafe around them. There were many incidences when I safeguarded myself from getting groped.  Today it has become worst when I cannot even think of stepping outside my house in the morning hours when people become wild while playing Holi.

I do not live in a gated society so whenever I open my window and look towards the main road during the peak hours of Holi I am unable to find a single woman on the streets. It’s all about boys driving their bikes rashly and giving goose bumps to all the passer-by. I wonder where all the women are gone and then I get my answer from within. I close the window glass and come back.



According to me, people have forgotten the essence of playing with colours. Now it is only about getting drunk and having the liberty to misbehave with women because the phrase says it all “Bura Na Maano Holi Hai.” I desperately want to shout in their ears and tell them, No it is not okay to do anything. We will mind and we will dissent. Just type on Google “rape cases on Holi” and you will be stunned to see the results. The first link said, “A 6-year-old girl was raped on Holi and 9 days later Police have only the culprit's name as a clue”. The second said, “80 years old dies after being gang-raped on Holi, 3 held.” Honestly, I could not gather the courage to read the third one.

Forget about rape cases. If only you will type “Holi for women” on Google, it will give you a list of safety tips for women. I mean seriously? Do we now need safety guidelines to be a part of our festivals? I understand and have made peace with the fact that we do live in a patriarchal society but all I want is a safe place to play my childhood’s favourite festival.

Is it actually too much to ask?

Comments

  1. Nishi MamgainApril 3, 2019 at 5:41 PM

    Wow Aanchal!! I never thought about this in this way. You are doing a great work by highlighting the everyday issues that we are facing now. Society needs to rethink and help in making the festival enjoyable for women as well.

    ReplyDelete

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