THE TIME OF HOLI 175 



to sanctify the festival long after the festival itself 

 came into vogue, as has been the case with some of 

 our most Christian holidays. 



The Holi comes round about the time of the vernal 

 equinox, when victory declares for day and warmth 

 in its long struggle with night and cold. Then 

 Nature rises and shakes herself as Samson rose and 

 shook himself and snapped the seven new cords 

 that bound him, as tow is snapped when it smells 

 the fire. Then "the wanton lapwing gets himself 

 another crest," and then also the young Hindu's 

 fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love ; and so 

 it came about quite naturally that, looking around, 

 among his plentiful gods, for a deity who might 

 fitly be invited to preside over his lusty rejoicings 

 at this season, he pitched upon Krishna. 



For Krishna, when he was upon this earth, was 

 an amorous youth, and his goings on with certain 

 milkmaids were such as would shock Mrs. Grundy 

 at the present day even in India, supposing he had 

 been only a man. But he was a god, therefore his 

 doing a thing made it right, and, where he presides, 

 his worshippers may do as he did. Consequently, 

 man, woman and child of every caste and grade 

 give themselves licence, during these days of the 

 Holi, to act and speak in a manner that would be 

 scandalous at any other time of the year. 



Hindus of the better sort are beginning to be 

 outwardly, and some of them, I hope, inwardly, 

 rather ashamed of this festival, and it is time they 

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