<p>Holi, the festival of colours which marks the arrival of spring, hope and joy is being celebrated across the country, especially in the northern states. It is said to be the festival for youths who ‘target’ their ‘prey’ with colour water, with great enthusiasm.<br /><br />The word holi brings to mind popular bollywood songs, where it was once considered to have a holi number in their films, to make it a unique selling proposition, by drenching the actors with a myriad of colours. <br /><br />Though there is no such song in the region that can be compared to the legendary hindi number ‘Rang barase...’ pictured on Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha in the film Silsila, which topped the charts decades ago, and is still a favourite, the vernacular channels can be seen airing ‘banna... nanna olavina banna’ featurning actor late Vishnuvardhan on that specific day, which falls on March 19 this year. <br /><br />But with schools and colleges all geared up conducting examinations this month, the festival may carry less enthusiasm with the students holed up with their books, at home.<br /><br />But there are also students like Akshatha, who feel that since the festival is on a Saturday, they would find some time for the celebrations and will never let go of the opportunity of splashing colours on their friends and family. This might in a way be a stress buster, she beams.<br /><br />Bollywood flicks - an inspiration<br /><br />Though Mysore didn’t show much interest in celebrating holi a decade ago, today’s youngsters are heavily influenced by the Bollywood flicks leave no stone unturned in celebrating the festival in a more memorable way.<br /><br />Mounds of colours can be seen in the area especially where the north Indians live, mostly youth move in groups and throw gulal and colours on friends and dear ones.<br /><br />Since, the festival does not involve any traditional puja rituals, the youngsters involve themselves in the festival purely for entertainment and the festival is for everyone from tiny brats to elders. Some even utilise the opportunity to send love messages to their dear ones through special gifts.<br /><br />Heaps of colours are available at the market place well in advance and it abuzz with activity with the shoppers getting geared up for the festival.<br /><br />Traditional and modern pichkaris<br /><br />Traditional pichkaris along with the innovative modern design too come up every year to lure the shoppers who wish to collect them and make it a point to drench everybody in town with colourful hues.<br /><br />Though there is no beating of dholaks and singing songs like how the Maharashtrians do, Mysore, which has also become an IT hub with people of all states working under one roof, holi will not be a drab as it once was. <br /><br />But it must be ensured that the colours used must be of natural dyes and not harmful chemicals as the doctors warn of severe eye problems and skin infections due to the high lead content present in the colours.</p>
<p>Holi, the festival of colours which marks the arrival of spring, hope and joy is being celebrated across the country, especially in the northern states. It is said to be the festival for youths who ‘target’ their ‘prey’ with colour water, with great enthusiasm.<br /><br />The word holi brings to mind popular bollywood songs, where it was once considered to have a holi number in their films, to make it a unique selling proposition, by drenching the actors with a myriad of colours. <br /><br />Though there is no such song in the region that can be compared to the legendary hindi number ‘Rang barase...’ pictured on Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha in the film Silsila, which topped the charts decades ago, and is still a favourite, the vernacular channels can be seen airing ‘banna... nanna olavina banna’ featurning actor late Vishnuvardhan on that specific day, which falls on March 19 this year. <br /><br />But with schools and colleges all geared up conducting examinations this month, the festival may carry less enthusiasm with the students holed up with their books, at home.<br /><br />But there are also students like Akshatha, who feel that since the festival is on a Saturday, they would find some time for the celebrations and will never let go of the opportunity of splashing colours on their friends and family. This might in a way be a stress buster, she beams.<br /><br />Bollywood flicks - an inspiration<br /><br />Though Mysore didn’t show much interest in celebrating holi a decade ago, today’s youngsters are heavily influenced by the Bollywood flicks leave no stone unturned in celebrating the festival in a more memorable way.<br /><br />Mounds of colours can be seen in the area especially where the north Indians live, mostly youth move in groups and throw gulal and colours on friends and dear ones.<br /><br />Since, the festival does not involve any traditional puja rituals, the youngsters involve themselves in the festival purely for entertainment and the festival is for everyone from tiny brats to elders. Some even utilise the opportunity to send love messages to their dear ones through special gifts.<br /><br />Heaps of colours are available at the market place well in advance and it abuzz with activity with the shoppers getting geared up for the festival.<br /><br />Traditional and modern pichkaris<br /><br />Traditional pichkaris along with the innovative modern design too come up every year to lure the shoppers who wish to collect them and make it a point to drench everybody in town with colourful hues.<br /><br />Though there is no beating of dholaks and singing songs like how the Maharashtrians do, Mysore, which has also become an IT hub with people of all states working under one roof, holi will not be a drab as it once was. <br /><br />But it must be ensured that the colours used must be of natural dyes and not harmful chemicals as the doctors warn of severe eye problems and skin infections due to the high lead content present in the colours.</p>
