"Princes, People & Purifiers: The Holi Festival in the Punjab, c. 1800–1920" a talk by Prof Anil Sethi at Main Building, IIC, Lodhi Estate > 6:30pm on 18th June 2012

Time : 6:30 pm

Entry : Free (Seating on First-Come First-Served basis)
Note : Call 011-24619431 ( IIC ) to re-confirm any last minute change or cancellation of the event.

Place : Conference Room - 1, Main Building, India International Centre ( IIC ), 40 Max Muller Marg, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi-110003
Venue Info : Events | About | Map | Nearest Metro Stations - 'Khan Market(Vilolet Line)' & 'Jor Bagh(Yellow Line)'
Area : Lodhi Road Area Events

Event Details : 'Princes, People and Purifiers: The Holi Festival in the Punjab, c. 1800–1920' a talk by Prof Anil Sethi, Dept. of History and Education, Azim Premji University.
Holi took on many meanings in 19th-century Punjab. For ordinary people, social licence and frenzy were important elements, marking a symbolic reversal of familial, class and caste hierarchies. There were limits to this overturning of order, however, and all reversals served to affirm the control of dominant groups. Maharaja Ranjit Singh used Holi to display monarchical pomp and power.
From the late 19th century, the “purifiers”—Sanatani, Arya and Sikh—made concerted attempts to rid it of revelry and institute a pavitra celebration.

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