I celebrated it by listening to an extraordinary Hori sung by the one and only Gauhar Jaan who had recorded it for Gramophone Company Ltd. in August 1915 on a 10” double-sided disc. Gauhar Jaan also sang another bandish “Hori khelat Khwaja Moinuddin” about the famous Sufi saint playing Holi. Nobody ever raised a finger, leave alone a hand, to criticise, condemn, or attack Gauhar Jaan who was perhaps the most famous courtesan singer of the last century. There are many ways of looking at the festival of Holi and understanding its meaning and significance. “Miyan tu hamse na rakh kuchh ghubaar Holi mein/ Ki roothe milte hain aapas mein yaar Holi mein/ Machee hai rang kee kaisee bahaar Holi mein/ Hua hai zor-e-chaman aashkaar Holi mein/ Azab yah Hind kee dekhee bahaar Holil mein.” (O Miyan, please do not retain any grudge in your heart against me because estranged friends reunite in Holi.

Source: The Hindu March 08, 2018 19:41 UTC