Believe it or not, but we are now only 3 weeks short of our first year in India! Last year we just missed Holi when we arrived. This year we certainly did not miss it!
"Holika Dahan
On the eve of Holi, called Chhoti or Small Holi people gather at important crossroads and light huge bonfires, the ceremony is called Holika Dahan. To render greatfulness to Agni, god of Fire, gram and stalks from the harvest are also offered to Agni with all humility. Ash left from this bonfire is also considered sacred and people apply it on their foreheads. People believe that the ash protects them from evil forces. " (source)
Preparations under way.
A most colourful husband :-)
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"Holika Dahan
On the eve of Holi, called Chhoti or Small Holi people gather at important crossroads and light huge bonfires, the ceremony is called Holika Dahan. To render greatfulness to Agni, god of Fire, gram and stalks from the harvest are also offered to Agni with all humility. Ash left from this bonfire is also considered sacred and people apply it on their foreheads. People believe that the ash protects them from evil forces. " (source)
"Play of Colours
Great
excitement can be seen in people on the next day when it is actually the
time for the play of colours. Shops and offices remain closed for the day
and people get all the time to get crazy and whacky. Bright colours of gulal
and abeer fill the air and people take turns in pouring colour water over
each other. Children take special delight in spraying colours on one another
with their pichkaris and throwing water balloons on passers by. Women and
senior citizen form groups called tolis and move in colonies -
applying colours and exchanging greetings. Songs, dance on the rhythm of
dholak and mouthwatering Holi delicacies are the other highlights of
the day. " (source)
"There is a legend behind the use of colors on Holi. According to the
Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna started the tradition of playing with
colors during the festival. He was jealous of his soul mate - Radha's
fair complexion, because he was dark in color. The young Krishna often
complained about his dark skin tone to his mother - Yashoda. To placate
the child, Yashoda asked him to smear color on Radha's face, so that her
fair complexion is masked. Obeying his mother, Lord Krishna applied
color on Radha's face, which changed her complexion. The playful and
mischievous Krishna started the game of playing with colors and this is
how, the celebration of Holi with colors was started."
If you want to know more about the colours and their significance you can head over to this site.
One of our lovely neighbours - Happy Holi!
In the street was set up a contraption that sprinkled water - the rain dance floor. The water was ice cold and within seconds we were completely soaked.
Food you ask? In abundance is the answer.
And then for the desserts - no Indian party is complete without Kulfi, roughly Indian ice cream with cardamom.
At an Indian party you usually get a lot of snacks - paneer, chicken, filled mushrooms, etc. - while mingling and making the occasional visit to the dance floor. Dinner can be served any time from 10.30 pm to 00.30 am. When the guests have finished eating, they go home, hence the late meal time. However, these guests did not fancy going home ...
I was just getting dry after the rain dance when the guy to the right in the picture snuck up behind me and emptied a whole bucket of cold water over me!
Another surrealistic moment for me - dancing in the "rain" at a Holi party in India with Indians, Brits and South Africans - to Abba's Dancing Queen. The world is a wonderful place.
