Is Holi always holy?

A long weekend and a colourful festival. Very few times, life gives such opportunities to breathe easy and celebrate in style. Talking about celebration, I started with embracing every bit of this festival. And graduated to avoiding every bit of it. So much so that I make deliberate plans to go out of town around this time of the year. Unfortunately, I was a wee bit late on deliberations this year and found most destinations pre- booked. The sweet brightness of the mornings and the pleasant chillness of the evenings surrounding this festival are indeed enjoyable.
But, Holi, itself rings alarming bells in the mind. And minds of most women who are forced to move with caution. You can’t blame us for feeling the way we do because nobody enjoys strange hands exploiting your vulnerability. No one can feel wonderful when unwelcomed hands feel you at inappropriate places. Given another day, you would retaliate but Holi is the biggest excuse for molesters who thrive on unsuspecting women. It’s a free-for-all day where even your biggest supporters would make you speechless with “its Holi, you’re overreacting!”
The guy would not only manage to get away but continue his expedition, without fear of being accounted. More cathartic is the fact that most of these men aren't strangers in the first place. They are the uncles, cousins, friend’s friend and close to the circle. Still this is one occasion they manage to get away without being confronted. And all we women are taught is to bear the humiliation. Act as if nothing has happened. It’s an occasion of celebrations, so don’t be a spoilt sport. Don’t create a scene and try keeping a safe distance from the perpetrator. If he still succeeds in coming closer, then let it happen again. Do anything but pretend nothing has happened. Then when Holi arrives in the next season, lock yourself in the indoors, no matter how much you want to get soaked in the vibrancy of surrounding colours. Remind yourself, again and again, that you can’t change the society but you can change yourself. So a festival well-loved gradually turns into something well-dreaded.
Happy Holi, guys! And I wish you all will join to keep it happy for the gals too.

Pic Courtesy: Google Images