THE Great American writer, philosopher, poet Ralph Waldo Emerson felt that Nature always wears the colours of the spirit. I am not sure if he was awareof thecolourfully spirited festival of Holi celebrated in India. For if he had, he would have elucidated his statement with a fine example. The festival of coloursis upon us. And though the fire of the celebrations will beignited tomorrow,Naturehas already adorned the colours of the spirit. Or to bemoreprecise, thehuman spirit will wear the colour of Nature–that of cheerful indulgence in the inner mirth and of aligning oneself with multitude of hues, sheddingitsown colours to wear all of them together. The blessed month of Falgun brings the heavens down on earth. If you happen to be an early riser and love to bathe in the morning sun,just closeyour eyes and hear the song of the birds. It’s an amazing ‘jugalbandi.’

 

 

The chirps, the chewinks,thebuzz, therattle, their‘sawal-jawab’ is music. While still keeping your eyesclosed, takeadeepbreath.The air orrather the cool breeze comes with a multitude of fragrance. As if it is still holding on to the intoxicating smell of the ‘raat rani,’to create a concoction in collusionwithathousandroses,‘mogras’, ‘juhis’ and ‘champas’. Then slowly open your eyes and look around. Your gardenisaplayofHoli from the heavens. The beautiful morninggloryblue and purple is raising its beautiful head while the bright red and yellow hibiscus are still dazzling, the white mogras are taking shape, the pink adeniums are holding round. The bright pink bougainvilleais opening armswhile the bright blue aparajita too is spreading its pigeonwings.

 

The bright yellow allamanda is pompously announcing its presence while the white ‘tagar’is packing a punch and the ever-joyous vinca is as joyful as ever. And yet amid all this beauty, you cannot stop yourself from bowing to the Kings of King – the Rose. It is present in many colours, shades, shapes and hues - red, yellow, pink, white and red-white, red-yellow, pink and peach and many more. Knowing full well of the many thorns underneath, it stands tall, acknowledging thebow.Oh!Themajesty. Oh! The pride. The trees too stand tall,rootedin wisdom. They are wearing the softest of green. Far away, a forest seems up in flames as a very introverted Palash, draped in all orange, opens up to offer its fellow occupants of earth seasons’ greetings. ‘Happy Holi,’ it says. I am all ready, are you? Are you? In spirit as in the ceremony? Thesebeautiful flowers, trees,beesand birds all are ready and wish to know if we humans are ready too? The month of Falgun has come to bring the heavens on earth? Are we ready to shed our colours to wear all the hues? Nature gets more and more nervous with human fixation for one colour.

 

Saffron is for someone, green for someone else, blue for still others. Falgun is Nature’s way of showing humans the broadest spectrumofcolours,ofhuman possibilities. It shudders at the human weakness for one. So, here comes Holi to remind all the denizens of earth the heavenly joy of colours. To those who love to camouflage themselves in one set of colours to feel secure, it comes as a reminder of the brightnessofcontrast and wisdom in accepting it. To the lovers of one colour, it opens the world of many hues explaining their need for fulfilment of life. To the lovers of grey, it brings the joy of the riot of colours. To the holders of peace-ful white, they offer a rainbow denoting the need for the sun to shine after rains. Colours are celebrations of abundance through variety. Let’s embrace them - in toto.

 

Day after, the townwillbepaintedred. Facesmay turn green but not with envy. Many may see red but not with anger. Many a white lie will do rounds. Some will sense a golden opportunity and some will see the silver lining. Things may come out of the blue and expect nothing to be in black and white, all will be in the pink of happiness. As Nature wears the colours of the spirit, so will the human spirit wear the colours of Nature and bask in the abundance of the variety it offer to the human spirit.