Spring in their brush

Where there is colour, there is art. And if the whole thing comes with a tradition on the sideline, then nothing can stop artists from making it their muse

Manpriya Singh

Even the most careless strokes of brush make for an eclectic piece of art, if not altogether excellent. Such is the magic of colours. Believe in the legends, welcome the spring, take a few liberties or revel in the fewer social restrictions.

In the end, Holi zeroes down to colours and artists’ interpretation of the festival remains as varied as the colours they go about splattering.

Be it the Pahari (possibly Kangra) or the Orissan paintings, or the series of Mewari paintings of Holi in Braj, Lord Krishna has always been the ultimate muse and the inspiration for the festival. Sometimes in a lush garden, at times under a canopy in a courtyard, some other times with a lake at the back, the creative art has often depicted the many moods of Krishna. “Playing Holi with his beloved Radha has been a theme I have always tried to capture. It gave me a chance to depict him in his true form as an impish flirt and a mischievous prankster,” shares Baani, founder of online art gallery Ocher Art.

Colour of emotion

There have been other times too, when the ancient murals, miniature paintings and creative works have borrowed from the euphoria that surrounds at the onset of spring. Professor Ravindra Sharma’s, Rang Se Umang, “is an attempt to describe the emotional significance of colours. In Indian culture and tradition, colours embody the joyous expressions of our spirit.”

The cubical blocks in the paintings are the rational and the free flowing forms stand for the emotional aspects of the human awareness. Then there’s Varsana, after one of the most sacred places in India. He shares, “Varsana is seen as a colour melody embodying the sun, space, verdure; all melting into the colours of love.”

Act of bravery

Somewhere in the country, it is time to go back to the roots, somewhere it is time to celebrate the valour and human spirit. Hola Mohalla, the annual fair at Anandpur Sahib lasting for three days, takes place a day after the Holi and consists of camping out, military exercises, mock battles, display of fighting prowess and bravery, followed by kirtan and community kitchen. “Holla Mohalla is celebrated in a slightly different manner than Holi as we know it,” shares Angad B Sodhi, who’s extensively captured the Nihangs, while working on a book. “The experience of capturing the festival was inspiring. For me, it has been about a lot of powerful portraits.” For everybody else, there’s the coloured powder and pistons to amuse.

Capturing the spirit

In Vrindavan and Mathura, where Lord Krishna grew up, the festival is celebrated for 16 days or may be more. Shares photographer Idris Ahmed, having done a series on the Holi in Braj, “The festivity starts really early and in Barsana, the festivities last till much after it is over in the cities.”

Even though his each picture is worth the proverbial thousand words, he shares, “I love the festivity and the spirit. The colourful gambit of activities, the heritage that is attached to the festival.” Dwell on the spirits, the festivity or even the history, at the end of the day, Holi is about colours. The ones that invariably percolate their way to canvases. As for the inspiration, there’s the euphoria of spring.

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