Phagwah: A time to embrace unity and goodwill

Mar 07, 2012 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
This festival is called by two names—‘Holi’ and ‘Phagwah’. ‘Holi’ derives from ‘Hola’, which means grains. It is a time when crops are harvested and thanksgiving is done to God for providing bountiful crops and foods. Indeed from the perspective of ‘Holi’, the occasion is really a time for thanksgiving; a time to share and embrace each other with goodwill and love.
‘Phagwah’ derives from the Hindu month, ‘Phalgun’ (the month in which the festival falls). To usher this day, the eve before, ‘Holika’—a huge fire is lit. It symbolizes the power of righteousness over unrighteousness; good over evil; truth over untruth; virtues over vices.
Following the burning, the next morning the ash is taken and placed upon each other’s forehead; water is besmeared on each other; chowtaal, kabeer and baani (special types of music) are sound; and the entire village, despite race and colour, join in the joyous festivities.
In the afternoon of the same day, everyone again joins in celebration by splashing abeer, and throwing powder upon each other, and sharing and participating in sweetmeats. Indeed, Phagwah is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a religiously sanctioned celebration of the simple—and some not so simple joys of life.
Phagwah is a time for introspection. It is a time for us to identify the negative forces (vices—lust, greed, anger, hate, malice, jealousy, contempt, etc) in our lives and seek ways for their destruction, so that we may live a life of peace, harmony, brotherly love and truth. We will commit fewer mistakes and seek to cultivate good habits and virtues.
Vices are the evils that sway us from the path of serene living. Lust, greed, anger, hate, malice, conceit, jealousy are the root causes of man’s miseries and sufferings. Swayed by them, man eats the wrong things; speaks the wrong things; harbours the wrong company; and does wrong things. Mistakes are therefore committed when vices are allowed to intervene and take control in one’s life. One cannot make the right decision at this stage. Life becomes like a brute. At this stage even religion and God become a mockery. Hence the essence of Phagwah is for us to identify these vices and other weaknesses and seek corrective measures.
The occasion of Phagwah must have a positive social impact. It must bring people together, foster unity, social peace and provide an avenue for people to cast away old enmity, hatred and jealousy. It is a time when people should look at their attitudes—whether or not they are conducive to development, both materially and spiritually. It is a time people should realize and remind themselves that colour, status and creed are only artificial, and that there is a greater and more sublime, underlying meaning and purpose of life.
“Oh God, Let us be saved together; let us be raised together. Let us be united and strengthened together. May we never envy each other”, is the prayer and essence of Phagwah.
Pandit Charranlall Nandalall

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Phagwah: A time to embrace unity and goodwill

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