The country is witnessing a constant uptick concerning the deadly COVID-19 cases. By keeping the current scenario in mind, the government has imposed strict guidelines and regulations to do damage control. But the question is – Will the people of Udaipur and beyond follow these set guidelines issued by the government or will they just put a lid on it and carry on with their celebrations as usual?
UdaipurBlog team took things into their own hands and asked some people about the gravity of the current situation and will they be celebrating Holi this year or not. We also asked them about the concept of the Holi Festival and why do we celebrate it. Some were clueless, and some had a sliver of information about the same. Our team got some funny answers as well!
Check out the video to know what answers we got on our little escapade!
In frame: Aatmagya Upadhyay
Behind the camera: Prakhar Chouhan and Shashwat Kaushik
Why is Holi Celebrated?
Although Holi is celebrated on a particular day, i.e., 29th March, it is rather a week-long affair for people who are most enthusiastic about the festival. Holi marks the advent of the spring season in our country, but do we know the true story behind celebrating it? Well, the concept behind celebrating Holika Dahan as well as Holi dates back to the mythological story when king Hiranyakashayp ordered his son Prahlad to be burnt since he was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashyap’s sister Holika complied to escort Prahlad in the fire, considering that she had the blessing of being immune from fire. She wanted to ensure Prahlad’s demise. Holika sat on the conflagration with Prahlad. Turns out that Holika was burnt alive while Prahlad was saved by God. Also, the story of Lord Krishna and Radha is related to the festival. We celebrate the intimate connection with the divine deities and their love plays when they used to go to each other’s villages and play with colours.
However, when Team UdaipurBlog had a chance to ask people about the same, they were quite clueless, while a few knew the gist of Holika and Prahlad’s story.
Will You Celebrate Holi this Year?
Well, when our team moved ahead with all the question business, they asked people if they would celebrate Holi this year, considering the fear of COVID-19 lurking around us. We got a bunch of “Ayes” & Noes.” The “Ayes” were fairly confident about the lesser extent of Coronavirus in our country and that the disease could do them no harm! Goodness Gracious!
The government had advised people about keeping the Holi Celebrations low this year since it is the right thing to do, knowing the damage our recklessness can cause in the near future and to other people. It is highly advisable to stay at home and celebrate with your family and close friends rather than going over the top with the Holi Celebrations. Wear a mask and ensure social distancing at any cost.
Guidelines and Protocols Imposed by the Rajasthan Government
Seeing the spike in cases, the Rajasthan government has issued certain guidelines to control the further spread of Coronavirus amidst the Holi Festival.
On March 26, the Home Department of the Rajasthan government partially revised the previous order banning public events and issued a new order, according to which it will now be allowed to hold events at public places on March 28 and 29 from 4 to 10 pm, in which a maximum of 50 people will be able to participate.
What precautions should we take while celebrating Holi?
- Caution should be your first priority, even if the government has given the nod to any public celebrations in the city.
- Keeping social distancing, sanitisers, and masks is a must!
- People above the age of 45 or 50 years are advised to avoid taking parts in crowded events and celebrations (if any).
- Those who are allergic to colours, cold water, or any substances shall remain at home or maintain their distance.
Wishing everyone a very Happy, Colourful and Safe Holi. Enjoy a lot but remember to maintain social distancing and adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines!
Happy Holi Udaipur! Stay Safe!