Happy Holi!

Holi Greetings from Delhi and Pune!

I started the day in Delhi so I could witness some of the Holi festivities in the capital city, and concluded it at a dance party in Pune. Actually, I didn't witness much because I was nervous about venturing on to the street and getting pelted with colored powder and water by neighborhood kids. So instead I decided to sleep in...

My plan was quickly foiled since my neighborhood was up celebrating. I awoke to the sounds of lots of kids in the streets and music coming from down the road. And then my upstairs neighbors started a party of their own - complete with all of the top Hindi and Bollywood tunes, along with musical appearances by Justin Timberlake, Dirty Vegas and whoever sings Bad to the Bone.

And my attempts to stay clean and dry were also quickly foiled. A few of my friends arrived with bags of colored powder and scolded me when I said I didn't want to get dirty. But inevitably, I succumbed to their pressure, although I quickly changed into fresh clothes as I had to leave for the airport, much to the dismay of my friends.

But it was great to see people in both Delhi and Pune enjoying the holiday. Everywhere I turned, kids, motorcyclists, rickshaw drivers were covered in various colors. Again, Holi is the celebration of the triumph of good over evil, as well as the celebration of the arrival of spring. I'm not quite sure where throwing colored powder on your friends came into plan, but it's definitely a cool way to celebrate!