Hori - Main tho Khelungi

Concept & Choreography: Yamini Kalluri
Musical Arrangement: Yamini Kalluri & Pubali Mattoo

This piece in the repertoire is also dedicated to my late grandmother. The protagonist is a South Indian Gollabhama who is deeply in love with Krishna and travels to Vrindavan, North India, to spend more time with him. Much like my grandmother, she is not particularly fond of North Indian culture and finds herself facing a culture shock that makes it challenging to adjust. Amidst these struggles, she encounters the festival of Holi, which terrifies her.

(Yamini's Interpretation)
“My dear friend, if I were to play Holi, I would only do so with Krishna. My love for him is so profound that I am willing to set aside my own tastes and preferences for this divine bond. When Krishna approaches me and says, ‘There is something on my face...’ he suddenly smears gulaal on me instead. I forgive him, and as he wraps his arms around me in an embrace, he squeezes me tightly. I gently pull away and ask why he is being so unreasonable. He returns with another tight hug and, holding my feet, begs me to play Holi with him, twisting my arm in the process. My heart begins to soften, but I still hesitate to join in the celebration.”

“As I gradually warm up to his kisses, he starts to smear red color on me. I protest, saying I don’t need the color of red because I already have my kumkuma bindi on my forehead. The sun is as red as this gulaal, and its brightness has already flushed my cheeks. Moreover, my lips are also red from our kisses. These are not just excuses! Remember how, when you looked at me, every part of my body blushed with passion and excitement? The marks you left on my arm when you held my wrist tightly prove I don’t need gulaal, Krishna!”

Krishna responds, “Then I will splash you with all the other colors using my pichkaari.”

The Gollabhama realizes, “As I see the colors from the pichkaari, I understand that you create rainbows in the sky every day. How have I been blind to see that these colors are meant to wash away my ignorance and sadness? I am ready to surrender to you, Krishna, and play Holi. As I immerse myself in these colors, I realize that I am Earth, and you are the Sky, while the colors you shower upon me embody fire, water, and air. I can now feel the confluence of the five elements, which fills me with a harmonious sense of joy. This compels me to embrace you. My yellow complexion mingles with your blue skin (YELLOW + BLUE = GREEN), symbolizing the arrival of spring, lush and vibrant. I can see the foliage around us coming to life as we remain in this harmonious embrace. Krishna, please don’t leave me; without you, I cannot find balance in this world.”