Significance of Holi

The word purana comes from the Sanskrit word "pure nava", that which is "new in the city". It is a new way of presenting things. Puranas are full of colorful illustrations and stories. On the surface they appear to be mere fantasy, but actually they contain subtle truths.

An asura king, Hiranyakashyap, wanted everyone to worship him. But his son Prahlad was a devotee of Lord Narayana, the king’s sworn enemy. Angry king wanted Holika, his sister, to get rid of Prahlad. Empowered to withstand the fire, Holika sat on a burning pyre holding Prahlad in her lap. But it was Holika who was burnt, and Prahlad came out unharmed.

Hiranyakashyap symbolizes one who is gross (dense). Prahlad embodies innocence, faith, bliss and joy. The spirit cannot be confined to love of material only. Hiranyakashyap wanted all joy to come from the material world. It did not happen that way. The individual jivatma (soul) cannot be bound to the material forever. It is natural to eventually move towards Narayana, one’s higher Self.

Holika stands for the past burdens -- memories, impressions on the mind -- that try to burn Prahlad’s innocence. But Prahlad, so deeply rooted in Narayana Bhakti (love of Naryana), could burn all past impressions (samskaras) and when that happens joy springs up with new colors.

Life becomes a celebration. Burning the past, you gear up for a new beginning. Your emotions, like fire, burn you. But when they are a fountain of colors, they add charm to your life. In ignorance, emotions are a bother; in knowledge, the same emotions add color.

Each emotion is associated with a color -- anger with red, jealousy with green, vibrancy and happiness with yellow, love with pink, vastness with blue, peace with white, sacrifice with saffron and knowledge with violet.

So Holi should be colorful and not boring. When each color is seen clearly, it is colorful. When all the colors get mixed, you end up with black.

So also in life, we play different roles. Each role and emotion needs to be clearly defined.

Emotional confusion creates problems. When you are a father, you have to play the part of a father. You can’t be a father at the office. When you mix the roles in your life, you start making mistakes. Whatever role you play in life, give yourself fully to it.

Harmony in diversity makes life vibrant and more colourful.

Location

Coronado Central Beach - near the Hotel Del Coronado (map)

Schedule

9:30 am - 10:00 am - Volunteers arrive and set up.
10:00 am - 10:15 am - Intro and welcome speech by Yogi (Basic instructions) and Shivani (Holi)
10:15 am - 12:00 pm - Holi
12:30 am - 1:00 pm - Light refreshments and fun.

Colors and Kids

Please note that just like last year we are only playing with non-toxic colored powders and kids will be playing only with colored water in a demarcated area with supervision. So, if you have been hesitant to play Holi or to let your kids play Holi, this is the best opportunity. Please bring buckets or mugs for pouring colors on others.

Donation

There is a suggested donation of $5 to cover the cost of colors and refreshments.

Precautions

Please bring an extra pair of clothes, towel and newspapers or plastic sheets to cover your carseats to avoid soaking them. Also, apply some moisturizer to prevent colors sticking to your skin. Use sunglasses to protect your eyes. As long as you are there, you are in the SOAK ZONE!

Parking

Park anywhere near the beach, close to the intersection of Ocean Blvd. and Isabella Avenue and look for colored umbrellas at the beach.

RSVP

Please RSVP to nimisha@artoflivingsd.org.