Festivals And National Unity

be stained not with colours, but with blood. There is a very simple solution to this problem, and that is what I have come to tell you.” He continued, “On the day of Holi, when the Hindu boys come playing Holi and reach near your neighbourhood, you Muslims should not stay away. Instead, Muslim boys should also come out and join their group and start playing Holi with them.” He added, “If, by chance, your clothes get stained with Holi colour and that bothers you, then I ask God to put that burden on me, and may the reward for avoiding the riot be written in your names.” The Muslims understood this suggestion, and on the day of Holi, they did exactly that. On the day of Holi, as usual, a group of enthusiastic Hindu youth came along the road near the Muslim area. At that moment, according to the pre-decided plan, some cheerful Muslim youth came out of their homes and joined the Hindu group with full excitement. They began playing Holi with them like one of them. After doing this, suddenly the entire atmosphere changed. The day that could have turned into one of violence between two enemies, turned into one of love and affection, with people spraying each other with rosewater. There is also a story from a city in Maharashtra. There, every year on a particular date, a Ganpati procession is taken out, which is like an annual festival. Hindus participate in large numbers. For many years, whenever