What is the color run? The color run is a paint race, which was founded in 2012 and has become a worldwide success. Kila mwaka, the color run is organized in all the big cities around the world. What is the purpose of the color run? The purpose of the color run is to bring professional and amateur runners together and to promote a healthy lifestyle, fun, and happiness. If you want to participate in the color run, you have to buy a ticket. A part of the profit will be donated to charity organizations. When you look at these aspects of the color run, it all seems fine and harmless. But what isn’t harmless, is what actually happens during the color run. During the color run, color powders are thrown over the participants, who are clothed in white. Why are color powders used during the color run? What is the purpose and meaning of color powders? Nini kinatokea katika ulimwengu wa kiroho, when the participants are painted with color powders? Should Christians participate in the color run? Are color runs harmless or not? If not, why are color runs bad? What is the spiritual danger of the color run?
What has been the inspiration for the color run?
The founder of the color run was inspired among others by the Hindu religious Holi feast (also called Holi Pagwah, Ranwali Holi, na kadhalika).
The Holi feast was originally only celebrated in India and Nepal. But nowadays this feast (festival) is celebrated in many countries around the world. Holi is also called the feast of colors, or the feast of sharing love. The color run is not the only event, which is inspired by the Holi feast. There are many other events, which are inspired by it as well.
Many events have copied and applied the use of color powders to their own events. Even churches use color powders during events to attract young people.
The Holi feast is a two-day festival and is a combination of a spring feast and a new years feast. The Holi feast celebrates the victory of good over evil.
The history of Holi
There are many versions of the Holi feast, but I will only briefly summarize the main version. Therefore it could be, that some details may be lacking, but the main purpose of this article is to look at the use and meaning of the color powders.
Holi derives from ‘Holika’, the name of the evil sister of the demonic king Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu honored the god Brahma. His son Prahlada didn’t agree with his father and stayed loyal to the god Vishnu, even when he was being punished and locked up by his father.
Prahlada’s aunt Holika, thought of a plan to get rid of her nephew. She suggested making a sacrifice to his god Vishnu, by climbing together on a pyre. Hata hivyo Yeye wore a cloak, that would prevent her from being burned. But when the fire flared up, the god Vishnu transferred the cloak to Prahlada. Therefore Holika died and Prahlada survived. Prahlada’s father became furious. The god Vishnu came in the appearance of god Narashimha and killed king Hiranyakashipu.
On the day of full moon Holika Dahan is celebrated
On the day of full moon, the feast Holika Dahan is celebrated. During Holika Dahan, people make a bonfire to destroy evil. But before they make the bonfire, religious rituals and prayers will take place, so that the intern evil will be destroyed. At the bonfire, the people will sing and dance. The bonfire, on Holika Dahan, is a remembrance and symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
On the day after full moon Rangwali Holi is celebrated
The day after full moon, Rangwali Holi (Holi Pagwah, Holi feast, Pagwah festival, na kadhalika.) is celebrated. Holi starts after the ashes of the Holika is being cooled down and after the Pandit of the national community has performed a morning service at the Holika. During this service, after prayer, the Pandit will speak blessings for happiness and welfare of the community in the new year. The attendees are arrayed with a tile, a first stip on the forehead, of the ashes of the Holika. This ash is considered holy and is a symbol of the god Shiva.
After this ceremony, the feast of the colors starts. During this feast of colors, the people chase each other and paint each other with color powders and (fragrance) waters in spray guns, which will ward of evil demons.
Other versions of the concept of using color powders and spray guns derive from the god Krishna. One version is that the god Krishna celebrated Holi with his friends, by using color powders and spray guns. The water would ensure that the powders would adhere better. Another version is based on the love story of god Krishna. Hata hivyo, the colors would ward off evil demons and keep the gods happy.
During Holi, there are groups, who are playing on the drums and other musical instruments. They are singing and dancing from one place to the other. The people are celebrating, dancing, Kuimba, Kunywa (alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages) and eating, together with family, Marafiki, na marafiki wa, till late in the night.
The spiritual danger of the color run and the meaning of color powders
Colors are very important in the Hindu religion and each color powder has its own meaning. According to the Hindu religion, the colors are associated with their gods.
When you wear a certain color or paint yourself with a certain color powder, you worship the gods and you engage (tie) yourself with these gods.
Every color powder used in the color run represents certain energy (life power). Therefore by using color powders, you can create your own atmosphere.
Why do participants of the color run have to wear white clothing?
I won’t go into details about the meaning of every color used in the color run, but I will look at the white color, which every participant of the color run needs to wear.
According to the Hindu religion, the color white represents purity, amani, maarifa, and self-denial.
The color white is also used during cremation and mourning. Priests use it as a symbol for spiritual rebirth and that is exactly what happens during the color run. Given these facts, it is no surprise, why the participants of the color run have to wear white.
The participants of the color run are baptized in colors
The second requirement of the color run is that the participants have to be covered with colors at the end of the race. Therefore during the race, they will be baptized in colors. Now let’s have look at the word ‘ubatizo':
The English word ‘baptism’ is translated from the Greek word ‘baptisma’ and is the process of immersion, submersion, and emergence. ‘Baptisma’ derives from ‘baptõ’, which means ‘to dip’.
When we look at the word ‘to baptize’ it is primarily a frequentative form of ‘baptō’, “to dip” and was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another, na kadhalika.
Some of you might think, "that’s one crazy story! What a nonsense!” Maybe you have participated in the color run or Holi feast or another color powder event and you didn’t feel anything. You only ran, danced, enjoyed yourself and had a good time.
What happens during baptism in the spiritual realm?
Well….Let’s have a look at a Christian baptism or if you are a Christian, let’s look at your ubatizo wa maji. Ulipobatizwa, you didn’t feel a thing, except the water. You went into the water (immersed), under the water (submerged), and got out of the water (emerged).
In the natural realm (visible realm, the realm of the senses), you only saw and felt the water with your senses. Lakini katika ulimwengu wa kiroho, you didn’t feel what happened.
Ulipobatizwa, you identified yourself with Jesus Christ’s burial and resurrection and connected yourself with Jesus.
You died to yourself; your flesh and buried your flesh in baptism. And as Christ was raised from the dead, your spirit was raised from the dead. That’s what happened in the spiritual realm.
Now in the natural realm, you didn’t feel that your flesh died. Nor did you actually die, because you got up and walked out of the water.
It is the same with the color run. Instead of being baptized in water and being connected to Jesus Christ, you are baptized in colors and be connected to evil powers.
You won’t feel a thing in the flesh. Lakini katika ulimwengu wa kiroho, you have bound yourself to these demonic powers (Miungu).
During the 3.1 miles color run you will be baptized with a certain color powder at each station. At the finish of the color run, everyone will be baptized with all kinds of colors. After this baptism, there will be a great color feast.
Japo kuwa, the color run will be slightly different this year, because the color run celebrates its 5th anniversary. It is called “The tropical world tour’, which means that during the color run there will be tropical island music. Lakini hiyo sio yote! While you are baptized with color powders, you will also be sprinkled with tropical fragrance waters, which are also used in pagan rituals to worship gods.
Should Christians participate in the color run?
Msifungiwe nira isivyo sawa pamoja na wasioamini.: kwa maana ushirika gani una haki na udhalimu? na ni ushirika gani unao nuru na giza? Na ni nini concord ina Kristo na Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, Nitakaa ndani yao, na kutembea ndani yao; Nitakuwa Mungu wao, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, na kuwa tofauti, asema Bwana, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote (2 Wakorintho 6:14)
Everyone has been given a free will, therefore everyone may choose for themselves. But what has the light in common with the darkness?
Kwa bahati mbaya, many Christians are carnal and are not really born again. Therefore they keep living after the flesh, badala ya kuishi kwa kufuata Roho. They are darkened in their minds and don’t discern the spirits and don’t see any spiritual danger.
With reference to the color run, they don’t see the spiritual danger of the color run.
They don’t see the influences of the Hindu religion and what actually happens in the spiritual realm when they are dipped (kubatizwa) in color powders.
They don’t see the spiritual truth that they are connected to demonic powers. They don’t see any danger of the color run at all, but they consider the color run as an innocent charity running event, with lots of fun, furaha, unity, na kadhalika.
But when you participate, you will never be the same. You will show up in white clothes and go home dyed in all kinds of colors. Your white clothes coated with color powders symbolize in the natural (Inayoonekana) realm, what has been taken place in the spiritual (unseen) realm.
The colors represent the gods, the energies (life powers), where you have attached yourself with. These demonic powers, which are behind these gods, will manifest themselves in your life. Maybe not immediately, but eventually, watakuwa. The manifestations will always be the same and start with depressions, agitation, impatience, (uncontrollable) hasira, wasiwasi, hofu, kukosa usingizi, nightmares, na kadhalika.
Christians should not become partakers of pagan rituals
Kama amkristo aliyezaliwa mara ya pili, you should not be partaker of pagan rituals nor copy them. That the world is inspired by pagan religions and copies pagan rituals is up to the world. But the church should not follow the world, copy the world and walk like the world. The church should abstain from these pagan practices, instead of becoming a partaker of pagan practices.
You have been separated from the world through Jesus Christ and are no longer joined to the world (Soma pia: ‘Is the yoke of Jesus easy and His burden light?‘).
Hii inamaanisha, that you don’t belong to the world anymore, because you have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness (Ulimwengu) into the Kingdom of God. If you are transferred in the spiritual realm, your actions should follow up your spiritual transfer and your restored position in Christ.
Lakini tatizo kubwa ni, that the church wants to stay carnal and is not willing to say goodbye to the flesh.
The church wants to live like the world. Kwa hiyo, the church copies the world and Christianizes the things of this world to make it alright and approved.
But as written in previous posts, by Christianizing the things of this world and by putting the word ‘Christian’ in front of something, doesn’t make it allright and acceptable to God (Soma pia: ‘Mchuzi wa Kikristo‘)
Being baptized (dipped) in colors has nothing to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. The only color that a Christian is connected with is the blood of Jesus Christ, which cleanses from all sins and iniquities.
The walk of the carnal man
When we go back to the Old Covenant and look at the people of God (who were carnal people and walked after the flesh), we read the same thing over and over again. The people of God compromised with Gentile nations and adopted their pagan religions, matambiko, and gods. By their acts, the people of God became unfaithful to the Almighty God. Licha ya ukweli kwamba, that God warned them many times, they went their own way and made their own rules. They didn’t keep His commandment to have no other gods before Him:
Thou shalt have no other gods before me (Kutoka 20:3).
And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth (Kutoka 23:13)
Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, wala kuwatumikia, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images (Kutoka 23:24)
Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods (Kutoka 23:32-33)
Jihadharini na nafsi zenu, that your heart be not deceived, and you turn aside, and serve other gods, na kuwaabudu (Kumbukumbu la Torati 11:16)
The majority of the people of God were stubborn and went their own way until they got themselves into deep trouble and saw no way out. In those times of trouble, they called upon the Lord God. And God, in His great love and mercy, sent His Word and redeemed them time and time again.
Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions (Zaburi 107:19-20).
Utambuzi wa Roho
As long as the body of Christ remains carnal and keeps walking after the flesh, which means being led by the senses, mawazo, hisia, hisia, opinions etc., the church shall not discern what is good and what is evil. I am not talking about natural things; i.e. if you may steal or not steal because that should be clear. Even an unbeliever knows that stealing is not good and that you will be punished if you steal. You don’t need the Holy Spirit for that. But when you walk after the Spirit, you will discern the spirits and the spiritual realm, and see what actually takes place behind the natural realm(visible realm).
As written before, if you are an unbeliever or a carnal unregenerate believer, you will find the things, which are written above, over exaggerated and one big nonsense. You will not see the danger of the color run and participating in the color run.
But to the believers, Ambao hutembea baada ya Roho, this is no-nonsense, but reality. They will discern the works of the devil; the works of darkness.
They know what takes place in the spiritual realm and therefore they will not participate in the works of darkness but abstain from it.
They will not sacrifice their lives to pagan gods (pepo) and take part in pagan rituals, but they will expose and reprove them, just like Jesus did.
Kuthibitisha kile kinachokubalika kwa Bwana. Wala msishirikiane na matendo yasiyozaa matunda ya giza., Lakini badala ya kuwakemea (Waefeso 5:10)
The things of this world will lead you into bondage
And because you are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage (Wagalatia 4:6-9)
If you really know Jesus Christ, then why would you depart from Him; the Word and become involved with the things of the world, which will lead you into bondage? The Bible is very clear and warns you, to not go back to the way you walked, before you became born again when you were carnal and walked after the flesh in darkness. But the Bible instructs you to walk after the Spirit, in the light.
Katika Kristo, you are clothed with a white linen garment
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand (Daniel 12:10)
Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment (Lamentation 9:8)
You have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. His blood made you holy and righteous. From the moment that you became kiumbe kipya, He has clothed you with a white linen garment, which represents righteousness. But the devil shall try anything to defile your white garment.
The devil shall try to tempt and seduce you in the flesh and shall ensure that you will remain carnal and keep walking after the flesh, so that your garment becomes defiled by the works of the flesh.
“He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment”
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels (Ufunuo 3:4-5)
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Ufunuo 7:13-14)
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him:for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints (Ufunuo 19:7-8)
Kwa hiyo, take heed that you stay faithful to Jesus Christ and that your white garments remain white and not be defiled by all kinds of colors.
“Kuwa chumvi ya dunia”
Chanzo: Wikipedia, Vines dictionary, color run.com
