“Someone like you” by Adele was playing in the earphones of 21 years old Shikha Hada when she was on her way home from office at Shankhamul. While lost in music, she suddenly got distracted when a hard object hit her back near Banglamukhi temple. She felt shivering cold inside her thick black sweater. She was hit by a colored lola (a small plastic bag/balloon filled with water) in cool March evening. She looked around immediately but found no one. Few seconds later, she saw two young kids of around 10-12 years old laughing loudly at her from the roof of an old four storey building. She murmured few words in anger. Since there was nobody to listen to her, she moved ahead. She didn’t feel any hurt at the moment but was compelled to put pain healer in her back at home. Fearing lola hits, she started using another way for going to office next day onwards.
The above incident happened exactly ten days before the popular Hindu festival Holi. Lola-culture is always on peak in Kathmandu streets one month before the day of Holi. Kids and teenagers gather at veranda or roof of their houses and enjoy throwing water filled lolas at passersby in streets. Mostly, girls are their target. They not only use plain water but colors, polluted water and dirty garbage to make lolas. Moreover, one of the strangest things in our society is even the girls attack unknown girls in streets with lolas.
A fine morning, energetic mood, many plans for the day, well dressed and heading towards school, college or work and suddenly one gets hit by water filled lolas. Isn’t that horrible? Obviously, it has been a big terror for girls. A college student and radio program producer in Equal Access, Sangharsa Panta, shares the same experience. In her Facebook post wrote, “Some are sad due to the completion of Shivaratri festival but I am sad due to the beginning of lola festival.” Lola terror begins right after Shivaratri festival, some two weeks before Holi festival. Joy of Holi disappears due to pre-Holi lola attacks and water balloons. Sangharsa further states that females are targeted more as they can’t defend themselves in stronger ways whereas boys can retaliate in no time. However, she adds the lola terror has been dwindled as compared to past years due to strict laws and fines but the fear of getting hit remains.
Holi, also called Fagu Purnima, is a festival of colors. It’s an ancient Hindu festival, after the myth of Holika. The festival is celebrated with fanfare by smearing red vermillion powder and different colors to each other. People exchange greetings and colors with family, friends and relatives and make merry.
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Holi festival revolves around colors, gathering, music, dance, food and celebration. People gather in streets and open areas and enjoy dancing and singing. Different mouth watering delicacies are made in every kitchen and shared with each other. However, Holi becomes a major nuisance for many women as they are forcefully dragged into celebrations. Holi often obstructs women to move around streets and crossroads since they are the major target of lolas. Especially kids and youths experience Holi’s fun aspect but ignore the plights of lola victims. Water-filled lolas not only damage dresses but hurt the body parts critically and also spread skin diseases. Girls’ sensitive body parts and face are targeted, leading to serious injuries.
Different rules and regulations are announced every year by the administration and police department to discourage haphazard throwing of water and lolas. This year too, Metropolitan Police Division has already made a provision of carrying out legal actions against defaulters. Additionally, Police Division of Bhaktapur has also made a provision of up to two years of imprisonment under Public Offense Act for the guilty. It’s a welcome move. However filing report is not possible at times. Victims don’t open up easily, though they face pain and humiliation. Since dirty water and colored lola are thrown from hiding, it’s very difficult to identify the real guilty. And, in most pre-Holi lola cases, the guilty are kids and teenagers, so the parents try their best to resolve the issue by advocating their children’s “innocence.”
Laws are not adequate until one has good moral values. In this regard, youths must behave sensibly while celebrating Holi festival. They should be concerned that their one simple act can invite a big problem for others. Celebrating Holi only is not only for fun, it’s also a part of our culture. Let’s celebrate Holi with enthusiasm and joy, leaving behind grudges and ill intentions.
Published on Republica 2014-03-15
http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=71036
The above incident happened exactly ten days before the popular Hindu festival Holi. Lola-culture is always on peak in Kathmandu streets one month before the day of Holi. Kids and teenagers gather at veranda or roof of their houses and enjoy throwing water filled lolas at passersby in streets. Mostly, girls are their target. They not only use plain water but colors, polluted water and dirty garbage to make lolas. Moreover, one of the strangest things in our society is even the girls attack unknown girls in streets with lolas.
A fine morning, energetic mood, many plans for the day, well dressed and heading towards school, college or work and suddenly one gets hit by water filled lolas. Isn’t that horrible? Obviously, it has been a big terror for girls. A college student and radio program producer in Equal Access, Sangharsa Panta, shares the same experience. In her Facebook post wrote, “Some are sad due to the completion of Shivaratri festival but I am sad due to the beginning of lola festival.” Lola terror begins right after Shivaratri festival, some two weeks before Holi festival. Joy of Holi disappears due to pre-Holi lola attacks and water balloons. Sangharsa further states that females are targeted more as they can’t defend themselves in stronger ways whereas boys can retaliate in no time. However, she adds the lola terror has been dwindled as compared to past years due to strict laws and fines but the fear of getting hit remains.
Holi, also called Fagu Purnima, is a festival of colors. It’s an ancient Hindu festival, after the myth of Holika. The festival is celebrated with fanfare by smearing red vermillion powder and different colors to each other. People exchange greetings and colors with family, friends and relatives and make merry.
Holi festival revolves around colors, gathering, music, dance, food and celebration. People gather in streets and open areas and enjoy dancing and singing. Different mouth watering delicacies are made in every kitchen and shared with each other. However, Holi becomes a major nuisance for many women as they are forcefully dragged into celebrations. Holi often obstructs women to move around streets and crossroads since they are the major target of lolas. Especially kids and youths experience Holi’s fun aspect but ignore the plights of lola victims. Water-filled lolas not only damage dresses but hurt the body parts critically and also spread skin diseases. Girls’ sensitive body parts and face are targeted, leading to serious injuries.
Different rules and regulations are announced every year by the administration and police department to discourage haphazard throwing of water and lolas. This year too, Metropolitan Police Division has already made a provision of carrying out legal actions against defaulters. Additionally, Police Division of Bhaktapur has also made a provision of up to two years of imprisonment under Public Offense Act for the guilty. It’s a welcome move. However filing report is not possible at times. Victims don’t open up easily, though they face pain and humiliation. Since dirty water and colored lola are thrown from hiding, it’s very difficult to identify the real guilty. And, in most pre-Holi lola cases, the guilty are kids and teenagers, so the parents try their best to resolve the issue by advocating their children’s “innocence.”
Laws are not adequate until one has good moral values. In this regard, youths must behave sensibly while celebrating Holi festival. They should be concerned that their one simple act can invite a big problem for others. Celebrating Holi only is not only for fun, it’s also a part of our culture. Let’s celebrate Holi with enthusiasm and joy, leaving behind grudges and ill intentions.
Published on Republica 2014-03-15
http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=71036
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