The "Unholy" Holi of 2017 in Goa : 7 Years since brutal rape and murder of Danielle McLaughlin at Palolem.
"Holi" which was renowned as "festival of colours" globally, has now become a nightmare for women of India and female tourists. It is now Indian version of "Ides Of March", for women.
7 Years back, On 13th March 2017 , it was Holi on a Monday. 28 Year old Danielle McLaughlin, an Irish as well as a British citizen was celebrating "the festival of colours" at Palolem beach, at extreme South of Goa, in Canacona.
On the intervening night of 13th and 14th March 2017, she was brutally raped and murdered by Vikat Bhagat, a local resident.
There is another Holi coming up in 24th March, this year and tourists are not at all excited about it, here in Goa.
The festival of Holi is celebrated in India to mark the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. It is the most vibrant and joyous festivals in India, celebrated with enthusiasm and fervor across the country.
Why Holi is celebrated and Hindu mythological story behind it, is just a query away, for all those who are interested in it.
However, over the course of recent decades, with the onset of Social Media and the expanse of internet, it has become filthy and extremely dangerous for women, to say the least.
The one day, when people of all religions, caste and creed come together to celebrate the festival of colours; has been reduced to a day, when obscenity of all kinds is supposed to be ok. Besides, their own mother and sister; Holi is a license to grope and molest, any woman for Indian men under the garb of "Bura na maano, Holi Hai".
The ages old adage, which basically was used on those fellows, who were not fond of being rubbed and applied colours, to tell them "Don't mind , after all it's Holi" is now transcended into a credible excuse to commit all the filthy things, specially against women, which otherwise on any other sane day, would be considered a crime.
Danielle had celebrated the Holi previous year too in 23rd March 2016 and enjoyed the revelry.
Being to India earlier, she had a clear idea, about what to expect on Holi, as clearly evident with last communication with her mother Andrea on 13th March 2017.
What happened next, sadly and unfortunately, we all know.
The tourist season in Goa, is almost over, with foreigner tourists seem not at all interested in staying over to play colours on Holi. Those who have not left, are planning to leave before 18th of March, Monday.
See Link : https://x.com/99Goa/status/1767826299848982582?s=20
Just a decade back, this was unthinkable, as foreigner tourists would plan their itinerary, in a way, which would permit them to celebrate Holi, here in Goa.
Now, after knowing the truth of Holi, they are leaving just about a week or 10 odd days before.
Holi in Goa is perhaps more obscene than any other place, having seen it live, for past many years. Indian men from in and around specially come over to North Goa beaches to touch and grope foreigner tourists women, as if it's their birth right, knowing that they would get away with it.
7 Years back, this video was online describing the current state of affairs of Holi in India.
This was published in country's largest circulated newspaper last year: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/fear-harassment-in-guise-of-festivities-women-say-they-are-scared-of-stepping-out/amp_articleshow/98488479.cms
In ancient world it was the proverbial "Beware of Ides of March", in India Holi has become "Ides of March" for women.
While Irish media has been agog with the pain and suffering of Danielle McLaughlin's family and friends, the local media of Goa is like "Silence Of The Lambs".
1. DRAINING' | Murdered Danielle McLaughlin’s family hope to travel to India for trial of ‘monster’
https://m.sundayworld.com/crime/irish-crime/murdered-danielle-mclaughlins-family-hope-to-travel-to-india-for-trial-of-monster/a52245991.html
2. Fund launched for Danielle McLaughlin’s family to attend India trial
https://www.donegaldaily.com/2024/03/13/fund-launched-for-danielle-mclaughlins-family-to-attend-india-trial/
3. JUSTICE DELAY Murdered Danielle McLaughlin’s mum fights back tears recalling body call as family reveal verdict ‘dream’
https://www.thesun.ie/news/12434577/murdered-danielle-mclaughlin-mum-tears-body-family-verdict-dream/
4. ‘A long road that's never ended’ – Family of Danielle McLaughlin murdered in India hopeful trial will conclude this year
https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/a-long-road-thats-never-ended-family-of-danielle-mclaughlin-murdered-in-india-hopeful-trial-will-conclude-this-year/a355289366.html
5. Go Fund Me set up on the seventh anniversary of Danielle McLaughlin’s murder
https://highlandradio.com/2024/03/13/go-fund-me-set-up-on-the-seventh-anniversary-of-danielle-mclaughlins-murder/
6. Heartbreaking story of Danielle’s family’s hunt for justice to feature on RTE’s Primetime
https://www.donegaldaily.com/2024/03/12/heartbreaking-story-of-danielles-familys-hunt-for-justice-to-feature-on-rtes-primetime/
With another Holi due in 10 days, and still few female foreigner tourists left here, letting people know what unfolded to Danielle on a Holi day, is the least local media could have done, but...
A message from Danielle's younger sister Jolene, who is a Nurse at Ireland:
7 years will have passed tomorrow since we found out we had lost Danielle.
7 years today since we ever got to speak to Danielle and 7 years today since she trusted her ‘friend’ and it ended up costing her her life.
We will never ever forgive him for what he did to Danielle that night so instead we will focus on making sure that we will be her voice and that he will never be able to hurt another girl again.
A lot of you would likely have seen us talk last night on prime time and we were so happy to see how well they showed our Danielle,not the victim he made her, the Danielle we have loved and seen become the incredible woman who would help anyone.
Danielle could be so innocent and naive yet in the same breath she could become your protector,defender and the person to make you laugh when upset.
When our daddy became ill while she was in Australia she straight away started googling different trial treatments or anything to help with his quality of life,she called up his doctors to see if there was anything else they could do and then hopped on a plane like it wasn’t the other side of the world she was going to just to make sure she could help us out and be there for him until the end.
Danielle could have been anywhere in the world it wouldn’t have mattered,if we needed her she would be there.
She was like a second mother to ‘her girls’ and usually she would always have atleast one beside her when she was in Ireland.
She was so proud of her girls that the chances are no matter where she met people they always knew about them and their whole life stories.
Danielle was the proudest big sister. 7 years her girls have went without Danielle. The youngest sister Skye will never truly know Danielle and the incredible person she was,she will never feel her influence which is why as now the eldest sister all I can do is make sure a little bit of Danielle will rub off on her through all our stories and videos.
Danielle was supposed to be our past ,future and present but because of that monster she has become our past that now all we can do is remember the person she was and think about the person could have been when ‘she grew up’.
Danielle never felt old and when she realised she was nearly 30 she was so emotional at the thought of becoming ‘old’.
Due to that awful man she never even got to turn 30 ,she will be forever young now.
Danielle’s voice may have been silenced 7 years ago but we will make sure her voice will still be heard.
It has been nearly 7 years since we discovered the sadistic and cruel things he did to Danielle and knowing how she suffered will never stop the pain we feel knowing no one helped her and that she died alone and scared in a foreign country.
In the space of 2 years we lost a father ,grandfather and a beloved sister/daughter, a grief that most wouldn’t be able to cope with yet we have had no choice but to ‘get on with it’.
Our grief even 7 years on is so raw because we are still fighting for Danielle and constantly being let down in our fight for Danielle.
The amount of setbacks we have seen and everything we have heard since her death has been so traumatising and overwhelming yet we are not allowed to let it get to us to ensure we can still fight for Danielle. All we want now is for this nightmare to end and that her killer will finally be found guilty.
A reminder, however stark, gruesome and difficult to read, is needed on local media, not only for the female tourists, who are still staying in Goa, to be extremely careful and cautious on Holi; it's a reminder for other residents also, that if they see something sinister happening, not to be quiet and dumb like a lamb, but to see, that no harm is done to any other woman.
Danielle would have wanted that, and she is watching all of us and our conduct, from heaven!
No more, another Danielle McLaughlin, in Goa or elsewhere; that should be our resolve and pledge. If we have to bring back the lost glory of Goa, the least which we could do is to be vigilant against any misconduct against both foreign tourists and local women.