Across the world, Holi is known as the ‘festival of colours’. Those who celebrate, unleash the child within every year, in the month of March, by drenching each other in all the colours of the rainbow. Holi also signals the beginning of the spring season and is celebrated over a two-day period.
On the first day, a bonfire (Holika) is lit. According to Indian beliefs, demon king Hiranyakashyap had the power to not be killed by man or animal. He, therefore, wanted to be worshipped. His own son, Prahlad, however, worshipped only Lord Vishnu. As punishment for his son’s disloyalty, Hiranyakashyap ordered his sister, Holika, to sit in a fire holding Prahlad so that his son would die. Holika had the power to be immune to a fire. This power, however, worked only if she was in the fire alone. When she entered with Prahlad, she quickly perished. Prahlad, however, was rescued from the fire by Lord Vishnu. This bonfire ritual, therefore, signifies the victory of good over evil.
Beyond the legend, however, Holi is also a great equaliser, as it unites people from all walks of life, across generations, to celebrate the good that resides in all of humanity.
Italian artist Patrizio Landolfi’s artwork ‘The Colours of Holi’ celebrates this aspect of the festival. There is a whirlwind of different colours—red, yellow, green, blue, and orange—that converge into this white cloud at the centre of the artwork. The white represents peace and harmony, which are felt so intensely during Holi celebrations. The colours merge into each other seamlessly, they do not clash. And they eventually become one.
This artwork signifies how important the message behind Holi is to maintain balance in the world. Like the different colours, humanity is also filled with people from different backgrounds. But instead of competing and clashing with each other, which has become frequent nowadays across the world, Holi teaches us to embrace each other’s differences more. Only when this happens will the world find peace.
This vibrant Holi artwork will brighten up your home or work space instantly. And what’s more, the piece promotes positivity, which will radiate all around the space it occupies. So look no further, this is the artwork that will bring those good vibrations back into your life.