Teachers and students of Nadi Primary School celebrate Holi yesterday. Photo: NADI PRIMARY SCHOOL
Students and teachers of Nadi Primary School from different backgrounds came together on Thursday to celebrate Holi with colours and music.
Holi, commonly known as the festival of colours, is observed by all Hindus around the world.
Head teacher Mala Singh said: “This programme will educate our children about Holi celebrations. Through this programme the students will learn values in education.
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“After the arrival of the indentured labourers, Holi has developed its strong roots in Fiji and is becoming one of the most anticipated festivals among the Fiji Indians.
“The message received is that when a person is honest and true to his or her task and values he or she will always prosper. Wrong ways, unjust practices and cruelty will lead to one’s downfall and suffering and end,” Mr Singh said.
Holi is a festival of great joy and celebration. It is one the most fun filled religious festivals in the Hindu calendar compared to other celebrations like Maha Shivratri, Ram Naumi and Krishna Janam Ashtami.
In Fiji, Holi like other religious observances, has taken on a multiracial theme as people of all races celebrate it together to bring about the notion of peace and harmony.
This year the final day of the celebrations was on March 2. But schools, businesses and religious groups held the celebrations one week earlier. Traditional songs were sung with much merrymaking.
Similar celebrations will enlighten homes including the various Ramayan Mandali nationwide.
According to the Hindu books, there is a symbolic myth behind commemorating Holi in relation to Lord Krishna. The scriptures outline the reason for the use of colours during the celebrations.
Lord Krishna in his youth despaired whether the fair-skinned Radha and other girls would like him because of his dark skin.
His mother, tired of the desperation, asked him to approach Radha and colour her face in any colour he wanted.
This he did, and Radha and Krishna became a couple. It was the begining of the use of colour in the painting of faces.
On the day of Holi, groups and mandali’s carry drums and other musical instruments, go from house to house and even from street to street to sing, dance and enjoy the events with colours and sweets.
Edited by Mohammed Zulfikar
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