Holiday Convergence

Interestingly, there was a holiday convergence for the Hindu, Moslem, Christian and Zorastrian religions this week- March 20-21st.

Thursday, March 20, aka Maundy Thursday, fell on Muhammed's Birthday, Mawlid an Nabi.

Good Friday, March 21st was also celebrated by the Hindus as Holi, the festival of colours, which sounds like its origins are rooted in man's earliest celebration rituals. Holi celebrates joy and friendship amongst people of all faiths. In the north they celebrate by throwing colored paint and water at each other. Even more pertinent, the colors relate to the colors of certain medicines used to heal the frequent bouts with flu and cold that the fluctuating temperatures of spring incur.

In the south, it is called Arattupuzha Pooram, and is one of the major festivals of Kerala in the district around Trichur aka Trissur. Arattupuzha Pooram is celebrated with a puja replete with caparisoned elephants who will also race each other at some point before the festival ends.

And the Parsi community is celebrating Navroz, the Zoroastrian New Year, proclaiming the start of another year for good actions-good thoughts, good words, and good deeds.

I am not sure which holiday accounts for the fireworks I heard throughout the night.