Month 7: Celebrating Holi, The Festival of Colors
by Aadya Bommineni, Aradhna Praveen, and Shriya Shaji
Hello all, this month we are featuring captivating artwork from artists Prisha Mundra, Ruthvi Subramaniam and Mahima Kolar, and how their work relates to Holi, the festival of colors. With each piece, the artists share a different story about the extensive traditions and stories of Holi, from the role of elephants, to the role of ancient stories, symbolizing different themes.
Holika
Prisha Mundra
North Creek High School
11th Grade
“This piece, titled “Holika,” captures the pivotal moment when Holika was burned while attempting to kill her nephew, Prahlada, marking the triumph of good over evil. On the right side of the painting, Prahlada sits on Holika’s lap amidst the fire, while the left side features King Hiranyakashipu, a powerful demon supporting Holika as he is enraged by his son Prahlada’s unwavering devotion to Lord Vishnu. Holika’s burning is associated with Holi traditions, including the bonfire on the night before Holi. Madhubani art is used to share such important stories through the power of intricate designs, vibrant colors, and a variety of mediums.”
- Prisha
The Royal Elephant
Ruthvi Subramaniam
Gateway Middle School
6th Grade
“The elephant is a cultural icon that holds a position of paramount importance in Hindu culture. It is a sacred symbol of divinity, peace, and royalty. Lord Ganesha, the deity with the elephant head, is worshipped as the God of beginnings and the remover of obstacles. This Madhubani painting called 'The Royal Elephant.’ It depicts a royal elephant walking the cobbled paths of Jaipur and represents the significance this gentle animal holds in India's festival of colors, Holi. Known for its royal heritage, Rajasthan's monarchy rode on howdahs (carriages placed on the elephant's back) and competed against each other in races. The Jaipur Holi Elephant Festival preserves this culture with a blend of adventure. During this festival, the elephants are adorned with ornamental head plates, anklets, ear danglers, and embellished jhool (saddle cloth). They are decorated with designs made up of vibrant colors on their body. The elephants are then paraded on the streets of Jaipur and engage in races, elephant dances, elephant polo matches, and tug-of-war. These gentle giants have played a pivotal role in Jaipur's history, symbolizing power, strength, and the enduring connection between humans and animals.”
-Ruthvi
Radha and Krishna
Mahima Kolar
Lakeside School
7th Grade
“This piece depicts Radha and Krishna, whose undying devotion to each other is the greatest symbol of eternal love in all of Hinduism. However, a lesser-known fact about them is that Krishna’s childhood prank on Radha inspired the popular Indian festival of colors, Holi. The story goes that in Krishna’s youth, he was jealous of Radha’s complexion, and complained about it to his mother. To console him, his mother told him to smear colors on Radha’s face to make her look more like Krishna. To this day, during Holi, people smear colors on each other’s faces to commemorate the festival’s playful origins.”
- Mahima
