Holi in a Time of War
Holi in a Time of war brings together reflections from Hindu religious voices and community leaders recorded just as the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, escalating a wider regional war and drawing international condemnation and urgent calls for de-escalation. Across the series, speakers ask what it means to hold a festival of joy in a moment marked by grief, violence, and displacement.
Their answers differ, but together they offer a shared ethic: to resist abuse of power, honor suffering, care for one another, and keep faith with joy, conscience, and our shared humanity even in
Voices from across our community reflecting on Holi, war, and the fragile work of joy.
Anant Rambachan, HfHR Advisory Board member, reflects on Holi as moral resistance. Prahlad’s courage still calls us to resist abuse of power and speak truth to it.
Holi Reflection by Rev. Abhi Prakash Janamanchi, “May we be protected together, nourished together, and work together with strength; may we not turn against one another. If we’re praying not to turn against each other, then Holi isn’t a distraction from what’s happening in the world—it’s one way to respond.”
Sunita Viswanath ED of HfHR, reflects on Holi in a time of war: the tension between celebration and suffering, the limits of “indifference” in the face of bombs—and honoring svastha (care for the self) as part of the work.
Raja Gopal Bhattar reflects on Holi in a time of war. They remind us that even amid grief, Gaza’s devastation, and displacement, spring returns, joy remains possible, and community helps us honor our humanity.
Sridhar Shanmugham of Shree Shaneeshwara Mandir’s Holi message … “Celebrating Holi during times of conflict is not about ignoring suffering. Rather, it is about affirming life, hope and the enduring of victory of good over evil … reminding humanity that even in darkness, color, joy and faith must survive
Reflections on Holi during a time of war by Rumni Saha, a Unitarian Universalist minister who also identifies as Hindu and a proud HfHR member.
Pandit Shivam Bhatt's Holi Message … “The lesson we must take forward in this dark time [is] that even as times get darker and darker and darker, our faith is still the light that holds us up.”
From the Holi celebration at the Taos Hanuman Mandir, HfHR Board Member + Co-Founder Punya Upadhyaya holds grief and gratitude together—and calls us to keep celebrating as an act of faith, love, and resilience.