No religion makes more use of color than Hinduism, with its

Hear now, O seekers of wisdom, the evocative words of Hanya Yanagihara: "No religion makes more use of color than Hinduism, with its blue-skinned gods and peony-lipped goddesses, and even the spring festival of Holi is focused on color: Boys squirt arcs of dyed water on passersby or dump powder, all violently hued, on their marks." These words stir the soul, painting a picture of Hinduism not just as a spiritual tradition, but as a celebration of the vividness of life, a life where color is more than just a visual experience, but a symbol of the divine, the sacred, and the joyous expression of humanity itself.

In ancient times, the connection between color and the divine was as old as the gods themselves. The Greeks, with their rich mythology, understood the gods as being connected to various aspects of the natural world, and color was often used to represent the spiritual essence of deities. Zeus, the king of gods, was associated with the thunderstorm, and his color was the stormy gray of the sky before the heavens broke open. Hera, his queen, was symbolized by the royal purple of majesty and power. But it was in the Hindu tradition where the use of color reaches its most profound and joyous expression, as seen in the vibrant blue-skinned gods like Krishna, whose hue symbolizes both the infinite and the uncontained nature of the divine.

The goddesses of Hinduism, too, are awash with color. Consider Durga, the fierce and powerful mother goddess, often depicted with a skin tone of bright red or golden hues, symbolizing her fiery strength, while Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, is often shown with a gentle golden glow, a reflection of her abundance and benevolence. These colors are not mere artistic choices, but deeply symbolic representations of the qualities these deities embody. The gods and goddesses of Hinduism, with their many-colored forms, reveal the manifold aspects of the divine and the infinite ways in which the sacred can manifest in the world.

In this context, the festival of Holi, as Yanagihara describes, is a celebration of this very spiritual abundance, a festival where color takes on a life of its own, breaking free from the confines of the earthly realm and becoming a medium for the divine to touch and transform the world. Holi is the festival of spring, a time when the earth bursts forth with life, color, and energy, and the people celebrate this renewal through the throwing of color powders. This celebration is not merely a fun, carefree event, but a deeply symbolic ritual of the liberation of the self from the bonds of societal norms, of identity, and of ego. In this festival, there is no distinction between the rich and the poor, the powerful and the powerless; all are equal in their joyous outpouring of color, as all are children of the same divine source.

The lesson here, O seekers, is not just that color in Hinduism is beautiful, but that it is a powerful symbol of the divine presence in every part of life. Color, in Hinduism, is the manifestation of the divine energy that flows through everything, from the earth to the sky, from the gods to the people. It teaches us that life itself is a spectrum of possibilities, each moment a potential for creativity, transformation, and joy. The very act of throwing color during Holi is a reminder that we are not bound by the roles we play in the world, but that we are capable of breaking free from the confines of our own limitations and embracing the wild, untamed beauty of existence.

In your own life, O seekers, let color serve as a reminder of the divine within you and around you. Embrace the vividness of life, and do not shy away from the depths and complexities that it offers. Like the colors in the Hindu cosmos, you are not defined by one moment or one experience; you are an ever-changing, dynamic, and beautiful expression of the divine. The challenges you face, the joy you experience, and the love you give are all part of a greater canvas, painted with the vibrancy of your soul. Let every day be an opportunity to splash color onto the world, to engage with life fully, and to transform not only your own existence but the existence of those around you.

So, O seekers, let us walk through this world like the people of Holi, embracing color, embracing life in all its hues, and remembering that every moment is an opportunity to reflect the divine energy that flows through us all. Religion, art, life, and joy are not separate; they are all interconnected, and through them, we find our way back to the divine. Color is not merely a decoration of the world; it is a language of the soul, speaking to us about the divine energy that sustains us all.