Happy (much belated) Holi!

I just realized that I never posted anything about our Holi celebrations this year. This was the fourth year that I've been in India for the festival, but the first one that I've actually done anything to celebrate. Either work, a visit to the US or simple laziness got in the way.

So this year we decided that we'd participate in the festivities. Our first stop was a family-friendly party at the Defence Colony (where we live) Club. We were joined there by most of the neighbor and people of all ages enjoyed the food, the music and, of course, the colors!


Those festivities wrapped up around 2pm and we made our way to the party of a local socialite who hosts an annual Holi bash that is widely covered on Page 3. It was definitely an awesome party and now I understand why Ani tried to convince he to go every year. There was amazing food (veg only), free-flowing drinks (until they ran out), great music and a rain tent.

I've included a few more photos from the day below and you'll notice how we got messier and messier as the day progressed.



And on a completely unrelated note, the was what the sky looked light when we walked out of the first party. Amazing...

Happy Holi

Today Holi, the festival of colors, is celebrated in Delhi. I'm missing the festivities for the second time in two years and I'm not thrilled about it. I will admit that I don't really understand what Holi is all about, but I do know two things: It marks the beginning of summer (which in India comes immediately after winter). On Holi people of all ages play with colors and water, making a big mess, but having a great time in the process.

Here are a few photos from the Hindustan Times:

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!

Holi is Coming

This Saturday marks another Hindu festival called Holi or the Festival of Colors. I've been told that it essentially celebrates the triumph of good over evil in Hindu mythology and it also marks the arrival of Spring. To celebrate Holi, people create huge bonfires and throw colored powder and water on friends and family. Sounds like fun, huh?

There are obvious signs that Holi is approaching. The stores in the market all have large displays of colored powders, water balloons and water guns. And just yesterday, a boy down the street tried to hit me with a water balloon. Fortunately, he missed.