What a holiday! I told you about preparation for the big event in the country. Preparation in the city was a bit more active and a bit less productive. Two days before the big day, the street bizaars were chalk full of stands selling heaps of colored powder in bags, small water-gun shooters (with coca-cola stickers and hot bollywood actors on them), as well as little bundles of ripe wheat (I think it represents fertility of spring). Many people apparently couldn't wait to start using all this stuff and so we began seeing men with bright pink faces, cows with bright pink splashes, and kids with bright pink everything long befiore the official events should begin.
We also got hit with water balloons on the way back from dinner a whole day in advance. Friendly people on the street told us we had best stay inside on the big day or we would "look like monkeys." If by this they meant dangerous, then I agree. It seems that kids and women do most of their playing the day before because on Holi day the men drink home-brewed alcohol, opium lassis, and feel that even their normal restraint towards women (not much to begin with) doesn't apply for the festival.
The night before Holi revealed loud Holi-themed pop songs being blasted from god knows were and constant drumming. The morning was rather less exciting than we thought (judging from our safe haven on the top of our hotel roof). But by miday things were picking up and we decided we could risk 'playing holi' right outside the hotel with hotel staff.
And it actually went better than we thought. WE got completely powdered by the hotel owner's little girl (cute) and politely powdered by the hotel staff (sweet) for a whole minute or so before guys from across street came over and the thing progressed to a grope fest (not so swell). We stepped back inside after that.
I think I looked less like a monkey and more like a rainbow raccoon. When I took down my hair the crusted stuff allowed it to defy gravity and I looked like rainbow cavewoman. Pictures are soon to come.

holi looks

amy holi face

robin holi faced (and eared)

Happy holi to you all and easter too!! (for those whom it applies)

written by  Drie on March 22, 2008 from Jodhpur, India
from the travel blog: Adventures in Hindustan
tagged HoliCowSmear
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Hey! Just wanted to let you know that I got your postcard, and I miss you tons! I can't wait until you come home. I check your blog every day and always love reading about your adventures - I hope everything's working out the way you want it to, and I can't wait to hear the stories firsthand.

When do you get back to the states?

Love,
Lauren

written by  Lauren Henderson on March 24, 2008

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This holiday sounds like tons of fun, minus the whole groping thing. lol, what could be better than being brightly colored all day?

written by  Jade *wink* on March 26, 2008

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