Holi is a couple of days away, but the celebrations already seem to have started. Given that schools, colleges and other organisations remain closed on that day, many people, particularly students, start celebrating a day in advance. This certainly makes many of us nostalgic about our school days when we would sprinkle colours on our friends a day before Holi. Orissa POST asked a few youngsters to share their Holi experiences from their school and college days.
Sandip Mallick, a businessman from Bhubaneswar, says, “I feel jealous when I see students playing Holi with their friends. It makes me nostalgic about my school and college days. We used to play Holi with our schoolmates a day before the holiday. However, times have changed and many now stay outside the state, some even abroad.” Playing Holi with old friends is a now a distant dream for Sandip. Moreover, he regrets that the fun of playing Holi is slowly diminishing with many now giving the actual festival a miss and using social media to wish family and friends.
Bipin Kumar Dash, who works with a finance company in Cuttack, says, “Holi is one of my favourite festivals. Since childhood I have been playing Holi with my cousins. However, it’s a different experience playing Holi with your batch mates. I still remember how my friends and I used to hide colours in our pockets and sprinkle on each other once school was over. The celebrations started a day in advance. Unfortunately, we lose contact with most friends once we are out of school or college. Now I wait till Holi, when a couple of my office colleagues visit our house to play Holi. However, it is nowhere close to the fun we had as students.”
Prateechi Parida from Bhubaneswar, who is preparing for competitive examinations, says that she would make sure never to miss school a day before Holi. “We were allowed to wear casuals on that day. We would also take all necessary precautions like applying oil on our face and hair so that the colours wouldn’t settle on the skin. Our school would make special arrangements and the celebrations would take place in the school playground. From water guns to colours to water balloons, we were provided everything. However, our teachers would always be around to ensure our safety and security. I really miss those days,” says Prateechi.
Subhalaxmi Behera, a school teacher from Rayagada, says, “For me, Holi wasn’t restricted to one day. In fact, my friends and I used to buy colours a few days before Holi and we would play on multiple occasions. Some people prefer wearing old clothes on Holi, as they don’t want to spoil their best attire. I wear old white clothes on this day, a habit I have maintained since childhood.”
SOYONG, OP