HOUSE OF THE WEEK
Unfinished project in South Okkalapa tsp
THIS two-storey house in South Okkalapa township represents unfinished business. more
A festival of colour at Inya Lake Hotel
(Volume 26, No. 512)
THESE HANDS WERE MADE FOR PAINTIN’: Abhineeta Gupta, an Indian resident of Yangon, celebrates the Hindu holi festival, also known as the Festival of Colour, at Inya Lake Hotel last year. The festival is named after Holika, a Hindu princess who according to legend was accidentally burned to death by King Hiranyakashipu. These days holi is more about throwing paint than immolations and Inya Lake Hotel is again marking holi this year, with raucous fun planned for March 1. Pic: Stuart Deed
FIERY death is at the heart of the holi festival celebrated by Hindus as the Festival of Colours, which also marks the beginning of spring.
Legend has it that the ambitious King Hiranyakashipu wanted to be worshipped as a God by one and all, including his son, Prahlad.
Prahlad, however, was a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu, and refused to bow down and worship his father.
The proud king was enraged by Prahlad’s disobedience and decided to kill him. At first the king tried to poison the boy but failed when the poison turned to nectar instead. The second assassination attempt was rather more crude – he had a herd of elephants trample Prahlad, who amazingly emerged unscathed. The king’s efforts then turned to snakes: He placed Prahlad in a room full of hungry, angry and highly venomous snakes but the boy survived again, much to the king’s consternation.
Finally the king turned to his sister Holika, who possessed a shawl that rendered the wearer invulnerable to fire, and asked for her assistance in torching Prahlad. King Hiranyakashipu had his followers build an enormous pyre, with Hol ika perched at the very top. He then ordered Prahlad to sit on her lap as the fire was lit.
As the fire reached it’s peak the updraft whipped the shawl from off Holika’s shoulders and settled on Prahlad – who at the time was praying to Lord Vishnu – leaving her to be burned to ashes and leaving Prahlad completely unharmed.
It is, unsurprisingly, Holika that gives the Festival of Colours its name and tradition dictates that bonfires be burnt on the day before the festival begins.
Holi is a raucous, fun festival celebrated by throwing brightly coloured powder and water over friends, family and strangers alike; not unlike Thingyan, Myanmar’s New Year celebration.
In Yangon, the Inya Lake Hotel will host a holi celebration, which will not feature any immolations, on Monday, March 1, from 2:30pm. Entry is free but those coming along must bring an open mind and fun attitude.
