Holi opens cross-cultural windows!

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 28: No doubt, Holi is a riot of colours. It, however, is famous for opening some cross-cultural windows as well. Untouched by Holi, regardless of their faiths, are always very few.

Some 25 people, mostly Muslims, from Kanpur have been doing a brisk business in Guwahati with Holi colours these days. They are the ones touched by such festivities almost round the year. Kanpur being famous for making Holi colours and other materials for almost every festival, these people hop from one business to another in accordance with festive seasons. During off seasons, they do other sort of activities.

One among them, Samir Khan, has come to the city with four quintals of colours this year.  He came to the city during the Holi last year also. He said that his business last year had not been that good. This year he hopes to do a good business.

When asked on any clash between his faith and Hindu festival Holi, Khan said: “We don’t club religion and festivity. I’m a Muslim. That doesn’t mean I’ll remain untouched in a Hindu festival. Such festivals do touch us some way or the other.  We do brisk business in every Hindu festival, and religion is no bar.”

Colours apart, pickkari, gulal, coloured water and many other materials for Hoil from outside the State have glutted the city. Among them, sold at high prices is herbal Holi gulal made in accordance with the technology of the tiol Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow. A kg of such gulal is sold at Rs 700.