Holi - Festival of Colours 2016 at Barwon Park Mansion

Barwon Park Mansion

20th Mar 2016 11:00 am. 

It was a perfect weather with temperatures hitting just around 22°C and perfect for a day in the sun.This is what, it was when we entered the arena of Festival of colors at historic Barwon Park Mansion, Winchelsea.Built in a bluestone this pretty 42 room Mansion with stables is built in 1871 on a Victorian rural landscape. The event was organised by ISKCON Melbourne. Actually, the main event organisers and crew members are from – Hare Krishna Valley  which is one of ISKCON’s farming community. It was a well organised event with facilities like, Toilets, Car Park and also stalls featuring some of Hare Krishna’s delicious dishes etc. Then, there was some other stalls and designated areas like Book Shop, Hare Krishna Mantra Meditation tent, Bhagavad Gita Card reading, Jumping Castle for kids, Henna Body art etc.However, the and center of attraction was the live Music stage and stage performances by various artists. I played Holi after a long time and had fun. My eldest son enjoyed the coloring part very much and he finished packets and packets of colors – spilling colors everywhere I guess.The best part was, all the colors are organic and wouldn’t stain your clothes, body or place where they are thrown.

Holi is a age old festival of india celebrated traditionally for two day. On day one, all the clutter and junk in the house is burnt, which is synonymous with killing of a demoness Holika. The scriptures say that, in the days of yore there was a small boy called Prahlad who is the son of the greatest of demons called Hiranyakashipu.The name Prahlad means – always joyful with love of God and Hiranya means Gold and Kashipu means a soft bed. So the father was a gross materialist who did not believe in God and son was totally spiritual and a transcendentalist.So, this was the basic incompatibility of the demoniac father. He did not like his own son worship in the Supreme God Vishnu, whom he hated. He ordered his sister Holika to Kill Prahlad. Holika a demoness had a magical blanket which if one wears, will not be burnt in fire. So she entered a huge fire, wearing this blanket and holding Prahlad. Then, suddenly there was a huge wind which blew away the blanket she was wearing and Holika was burnt to ashes in no time. Meanwhile, the little Prahlad who was always absorbed in the thoughts of God remained perfectly fine and the fire did not harm him at all.

Festival of Colours 2016 at Barwon Park Mansion

Festival of Colours 2016 at Barwon Park Mansion

Holi is celebrated in all parts of India but, it is especially (Albeit two days before the Holi) celebrated with zeal and fervour of Radha and Krishna in Mathura, Vrindavan and all over Vraj. In Barsana the place where Srimati Radha Rani grew up and Nandgaon where Lord Krishna grew up the holi is not only played with colors but, women of Barsana hit the men of Nandgaon with sticks mockingly and the men carry shield to protect themselves from this beating by womenfolk. Why is this so? The history says that one time Lord Krishna visited his beloved Radha's village on this day and playfully teased her and her friends. Taking offence at this, the women of Barsana chased him away. Since then, men from Krishna's village,Nandgaon, visit Barsana to play Holi. 

Finally late noon, after a wonderful time playing Holi and having a delicious lunch headed back to Melbourne with my family. I look forward to this event in 2017 and would highly recommend everyone to join this family fun - The festival of colours.

Its Me

Enjoy the colours of life, sometimes Blue - go beyond the Blue, Red - don't be angry, Pink - Hold on, Stay Healthy, yellow - Be Happy, make others Happy, Orange - Purity in words, thoughts and deeds, Green - don't become green with envy but become like a tree - develop the tolerance and serving others selflessly....