Sweets and savory dishes on plates, bowls of colors, Gulal in the air, people singing Phaag (folk songs celebrating Phagun or the month of Holi), fervor, and joy all around- the arrival of Holi is a time when everyone welcomes energy, newness, and life with open arms. In the states of India, people have different ways of celebrating the festival with their loved ones.
This ancient festival of colors seems to be one of the most important occasions for the people of India till modern times. In this blog, we will relish the vibrancy of Holi through the colors of Indian painting. With each brushstroke and eye-catching color filling the canvas with eternal colors, these paintings perfectly capture the essence of Holi for India and its people.
Lord Krishna Playing Holi with Radha and Gopis | Pichwai Art
In the art of Pichwai, Krishna is Srinathji- the Lord of Nathdwara and its Haveli, who celebrates Holi with his devotees and beloved Radha, Gopis, and Gopas. The festival of Holi at Nathdwara, much like Vrindavan and other temple towns dedicated to Krishna, is an occasion to behold. Srinathji comes out in his “Rajbhog Darshan”, where the head priest of the temple first offers the colors to the idol and then throws it in the air, declaring the commencement of the festival.
In the Pichwai paintings, the devoted painters transform the Holi of Srinathji into a divine affair, by depicting him with Sri Radha Rani, Gopis, and cowherds of Gokul, standing on the terrace of the haveli, with nature in full bloom, peacocks dancing and lotuses blossoming.
Radha Krishna Playing Holi in Vrindavan
The colors of Holi get richer as we move towards the treasure of Indian folk art. Taking inspiration from the innumerable legends, tales, and beliefs of people, these paintings create marvelous visions on canvases. Pattachitra paintings, with their vibrant hues and stories of Gita Govinda and local legends, use Radha-Krishna as the heroine and hero, enjoying the arrival of spring and the company of their friends.
The Pattachitra scrolls represent the blue-skinned Krishna mischievously throwing colors on his beloved Radha, covering her in the colors of love, as a charming visual narration of Jaideva’s Gita Govinda, which has popularized the stories of Radha-Krishna. The paintings are also an expression of the festivity of Dola Poornima, the regional festival of Orissa dedicated to Radha-Krishna, which coincides with the celebration of Holi.
Baramasa - Month of Phalgun (Shishir)
Baramasa or the Twelve Months or Seasons are traditional Indian paintings depicting the twelve seasons through the changing moods of the heroine (Nayika). In the poetry of Keshvadas that has inspired the aesthetics of Baramasa, Phalgun (February-March) is described as the month for romance, where nature becomes beautiful and young men and women enjoy playing with colors in each other’s company.
In the Baramasa painting of Phalgun, the foreground is often shown with a container full of colors and Pichkari (water guns), with the heroine embraced by the Nayaka and telling him to not leave her in the month of Phalgun, which brings passion and love for young lovers. Holi in Baramasa’s universe is thus synonymous with Phagun, where nature welcomes Sringaar and Prema (romance and love) with garlands of fragrant flowers.
Holi - Mughal Miniature
The colors of Holi transcended religious and cultural boundaries and colored the celebrations of the Mughals. As “Aab-i-Paashi” or “Eid-i-Gulabi”, Holi became one of the favorites of the Mughals, who had a substantial number of Hindu residents in their palaces. Artisans, traders, courtiers, and members of the royal family indulged in the festival of colors with great fervor, leading to a rich tradition of Mughal miniatures in which elite men and women are depicted enjoying the festivities of Holi.
Mughal paintings of Holi celebrations capture Holi in the medieval period, with subjects seen wearing luxurious attires, standing in the ahata or courtyards of their palaces and havelis, and playing with colors. The precedence set by Baramasa and other painting traditions on Holi had a clear impact on the Mughal artworks, which continued the tradition of depicting the ambiance of Holi through romantic couples, embraces, colors, and playful moods of the hero and heroine on canvas.
Holi Celebrating Woman | Watercolor on Paper | By Shubham Sarkar
India’s love for Holi did not change with time and even with the coming of the modern period, the colors of Holi remained rich in the culture of its people. Modern versions of Holi celebration include gatherings, dance and music festivals, and parties of friends and families, enjoying each other's company. One such tradition was started in Tagore’s Shantiniketan, where Hol is celebrated as Basant Utsav- the festival of spring.
People gather in the environs of Shantiniketan, singing songs of devotion, burning fragrant sticks, and offering their teachers flowers as a token of respect. Folk music and food are also enjoyed in Shantiniketan during Basant Utsav, filling the ambiance with laughter and joy. The watercolor on canvas painting here is a depiction of the Shantiniketan Basant Utsav or Holi, where participants wear a joyous yellow as a celebration of the arrival of Vasant or spring and smear each other with Gulal.
The joys and traditions around Holi in India are unending. Each year, the festival comes with a promise of a new harvest, happiness, and abundance, with blessings of gods and the warmth of family. As people gather around, everything bad about the past year is forgotten and they focus on the present and future, filling it with the colors of Gulal and the sweetness of Gujiya. Much like Indian folk songs of Holi, Indian paintings for a long time have been the treasure trove of different ways in which we welcome the festival, making them the perfect window into the flamboyant festivity of Holi.
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