Holi as Part of Muslim Culture and Literature

In a fresh controversy erupting out of Bihar, Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul, the BJP MLA from the Bisfi assembly constituency in Madhubani district, asked Muslims to stay at home if they are "scared of the colours or stains on their clothes" and instead, let Hindus celebrate the festival. Just before this, the popular 'Braj ki Holi' became the epicentre of controversy when President Dinesh Sharma of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust wrote a letter in his blood to CM Yogi Adityanath requesting a ban on Muslims in one of India's most popular festival celebrations.

As much as the current situation favours the majoritarian viewpoint, history states otherwise. According to historical documentation, Muslims have been an integral part of Holi celebrations. There are various references to Holi in Urdu literature and poetry, with Urdu poets, from Amir Khusrau to Sahir Ludhianvi, never missing the opportunity to mention the festival in their works.

Mughal's way of Holi

Dating back to the Mughal era, and continuing even today, Holi falls in March. It coincided with another important festival of the Mughal era, Navroz. The Mughals were known for their liberal attitudes and their enjoyment of celebrating Indian festivals. As Abul Fazl wrote in Ain-e-Akbari, Akbar would start collecting beautiful squirts and syringes of various sizes throughout the year in anticipation of Holi. On the rarest of occasions, it was Holi that would entice Akbar to leave his fort and play with the commoners.

Another text, Tuzk-e-Jahangiri, highlights how Jahangir actively participated in Holi celebrations and even hosted musical gatherings. Additionally, reports suggest that Shah Jahan would watch the Holi celebrations from the windows or, at that time, the jharokhas of the Red Fort. He even named it Eide Gulabi, meaning "the festival of colours," and Jashn-e-Aab-Pashi, meaning "the festival of spraying water." The area now known as Rajghat was the site of Holi fairs during Shah Jahan’s rule. Bahadur Shah Zafar even made Holi the official festival of the Red Fort and patronised a new genre of Urdu poetry called 'Hori', which was sung on the day of Holi.

Holi and Sufism

Muslim Sufi poets have been popular for propagating the message of brotherhood using Holi as an opportunity. Nizammuddin Aulia is considered to be one amongst the first secular theorists who started celebrating Holi in his monastery. Along with him, Khusrau composed a verse for the occassion that goes by: "Aaj rang hai, maa ri aaj rang hai/Morey khwaja ke ghar aaj rang hai/Mohey peer payo Nijamuddin aulia/Des bides mien phiri ri, tera rang bhayo nijamuddin aulia/Aaj sajan mila morey aangan mien (It is colour today, my mother it is colour today, my beloved is found in my own yard)."

Apart from Delhi, Lucknow also observed the celebrations where Nawab Saadat Ali Khan and Asifuddaula were popular for spending crores over the Holi celebrations. The celebrations would also witness the nautch girls, singers, prostitutes and courtiers who would be rewarded with gold coins and velvet cloth.

Glimpses in Urdu Poetry

Amongst the Urdu poets, Nazeer Akbarabadi is known to have composed eight long poems about Holi. Shah Niaz, a Sufi and a poet, was a contemporary of Nazeer, who also wrote: "Hori hoye rahi hai Ahmad geo ke duwar/Hazrat Ali ke rang bano hai Hasan Husain khilar (Holi is being played at the gate of Prophet Mohammad, Ali has brought colours, Husain and Hasan are playing).

The beauty of poems featuring references to Holi is magnificently illustrated in the 18th-century poet Qayam’s Chandpur ki Holi. Qayam, who was considered an 'Ustad' by Ghalib, depicts a scene where an inebriated Maulvi forgets his way to the mosque, a metaphor for the state of people during Holi. In his poem, he paints a picture of people from all walks of life coming together to celebrate the festival, symbolising equality. Without a doubt, he concludes the poem with a prayer: Ilahihai jab takke ye shor o shar ho alam mein/ Holi seybaqiasar
(Translation: "O God, let the festivity of Holi survive until the world does").

This, indeed, captures the poet's profound love for Holi. 

The information has been sourced by Indian Express and Sabrang India