Markets are already flooded with heaps of gulal (colour) - they are arranged in pyramids and sold loose. Vendors sit on street corners selling gulal to passers-by. Gulal is made up of many rich colours like pink, magenta, red, yellow and green....!!!
The spirit of Holi is colour - rich and vibrant, flung into the air and smeared with laughter on friends and loved ones. It recalls, very simply, the secret of life: a shifting panorama of sights, movement and feelings. Colours denotes energy - the vivid, passionate pulse of life. Colour signifies the vitality that makes the human race unique in the universal scheme. Holi, the festival of colour, is also the enactment of spring. It is, in a metaphorical sense, changing earth’s dull garb of winter for the fresh blue of the March skies, the bright colours of new blossoms, the brilliance of the summer sun washing everything with its red-gold hues.
A Bollywood actor models the colours of Holi.
Children, friends and neighbours gather on the streets and a riot of colour takes over. Coloured powders called 'abeer' or 'gulal' are thrown into the air and smeared on faces and bodies. 'Pichkaris' are filled with coloured water and this is spurted onto people.
An enthusiastic group of students enjoying the spirit of Holi..!!!
Water balloons are thrown at friends and neighbours in the spirit of fun. Sometimes, mud baths are prepared and people are 'dunked' into this amidst much laughter and teasing. The visitors carry 'gulal' or colour to pay their respects to elders by sprinkling some on their feet.
Holi knows no bars, everybody feels it is their right to enjoy and enjoy they do. Songs, dance, drinks, Foods everything goes in excess when it is time for Holi.
"Life just turns Colorful" when it is time for Holi.
16 comments:
Oh I so love colour and I would love to be a part of this too. I love to learn about different customs so this was great Holi. Oh how I would love to visit India one day. Maybe, maybe! Shame I cant buy gulal through the mail. Does it wash off easily? By the way that post was beautifully written too.
Thanks for visiting Lilly and for your kind words. Holi is a beautiful festival in many ways. You should try and visit here during March to enjoy Holi, and of course be my guest. I would be happy to send you gulal by mail, any time. It washes pretty easily when you shower.
Thanks again for passing by.
Loved the post...and I so agree with you about the Pune Page 3 and the builder mafia...makes me think you gal are a Punekar...hmmmm
And ooops...I've done it again...I know you and you aint no gal...but look out for the next post its all about Men are from Mars and...Women aint from Venus...Question...How do u get your blog to look so neat...me needs loads of tech help on this front. cheers!!
Hey there. Thanks for your comments. And will check back for the 'Men are from Mars....'post.
My blog is very shabby, but there's a great blogger :
terrysplaypen.blogspot.com/
apparently he is diva of blogging technology, and very helpful too.
good luck.
Omigosh, what a wonderful festival! I absolutely love bright colors. Like Lilly, I would love to visit India too. We have an area of the city where there are blocks and blocks of wonderful Indian shops and restaurants. I love to visit there. Indian food is my absolutely favorite, especially the sweets. Magic!
I am going to wear my bright fuscia sweater today in the spirit of Holi. :-)
P.S. Do you know what my word verification is for this post? "REDNESS" I kid you not!
well written post and does justice to what the festival's all about. congrats.
Brings back many memories of wonderful childhood years spent in India. My favourite is the first shot.
Jo,
Thank you for visiting and writing such beautiful comments and sharing in the spirit of Holi. Hope you enjoy your day. I love bright Fuscia colour too. And would be delighted to have you & Lilly as my guests so do visit India when ever you can. By the way I am good in the kitchen too. Home cooked Biryani and chikken tikka are my specialities...!
budh.aaah
Thank you for your expressions on my post. You have made my day !
David,
Thanks for visiting & commenting. Yes, the first picture is a visual delight even on the streets of India these days.
Beautiful post! I used to enjoy it more when I was a child, now i prefer dry Holi. :)
Happy Holi to you!
Hi Indrani,
Thanks for visiting and for your kind comments. Even I prefer the dry Holi, but I love all the colours.
Happy Holi to you...!
That sounds like great fun! I wish we had something like that here...
Thanks for the very kind words over at my place.
What photos! I love the Holi. That must be such fun.
Great blog... The words are like bright colors themselves - really vibrant & they hit the mind & heart like colors hit the eye :)
I miss holi - my favorite Indian festival... favorite mostly bcoz it is devoid of religion... and also bcoz it's so much FUN!
This is such a beautiful post and so colorful! Your blog is so pretty. I love reading it. Keep up the great work.
Hey there, thanks for your comment on "Computers hit the road in HK" blog. I loved "Festival of Colours". Great pictures.
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