Happy Holi!

Festival of Colours!

What a great tradition in the Indian religion and culture.

Now, I am no expert on this religion or holiday.  However, to the best of my knowledge this religious festival almost seems to have 2 parts.  One is where a man in ancient times became boastful, proud, and wicked as he gained a strength where he could not die - by human, animal, or god.  This wicked man then told the inhabitants to stop praying to the gods and to start praising him.  Prahlada, the son of the wicked man, continued to pray to the gods, more particularly, Lord Vishnu.  After being subjected to multiple forms of torture and punishment (poison by his father which turned to sweet nectar upon touching Prahlada's lips, trampling by elephants, locked in a room with poisonous snakes, etc...) the wicked man Hiranyakashipu then ordered his own son to be killed by fire.  I think to add insult to injury but also to ensure the death of the son, the father ordered his demoness daughter Holika to hold Prahlada in her lap.  Holika had the demon ability not to be destroyed by fire.  To the amazement off all around, Holika died in the fire and Prahlada was spared (very much like our biblical version of 3 young men being spared in the fiery furnace).  The burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi.

The second half of this festival seems to stem from the area where Lord Krishna grew up.  It is the celebration of the end of winter and welcomes the miraculous coming of spring - the celebrated season of love.

So, what this means to the unlearned or those who are not of this religious belief...  It is a joyous, messy, colorful festival. 

My friends and I went to Potomac, Maryland to the Indian Krishna Temple parking lot around 12:00 pm with the big color throwing to start at 1:30 pm.  By the time we arrived, the party was in full force.  The lot was fair game for the colors to be thrown.  On the outskirts of the parking lot was a small tent set up with religious paraphernalia, a meditation center, and food for sale (of course all organic and vegetarian).  Upon entering the parking lot there were 2 tables set up to purchase the scented powdered colors.  Think almost chalk like.  Also the scent was not over powering but it definitely is long lasting, my hair still smells like the powder 2 days later.   

About 1/2 way through the celebration.
Jesse Reed and myself enjoying the festival.

This is a great festival and the usual strictness of social customs are put aside.  Young and old, male and female, rich and poor all come together to celebrate.  The men are a little more picked upon first arrival, however us women were not a beat or two far behind.  There was a particular man who just embodied what the joyousness of the occasion.  Seeing a group coming down the hill to the parking lot, or seeing someone on the side lines, he would get them in a vice like hug (and at times a head lock!) and start yelling "Happy Holi!" and bring said person to the different groups of people standing around.  Normally about 2-3 groups per person.  Everyone would then yell "Happy Holi!" in response and cover the person in powder.  While women were never put in a vice like grip, many young men would come up and almost anoint like both checks or forehead.  Some more brave souls would run color in my hair.  As most women had their hair up, with mine being long and straight and particularly soft that day, people would put the initial color on the hair and then stop and rub more color through a couple of times. 

Never have I been touch and so closely touched by so many strangers in my life.  The hair thing was kinda weird, but as it felt nice to get a few quick scalp massages in, I was ok with it. 

Just prior to 1:30 the event organizers had everyone come to the font of the parking lot (at least a couple hundred people) and form and spirling ring.  After a count down the center person flung color in the air and the color quickly went round the circle.  The air filled instantly with powder of every rainbow hughe.  The color spread was so fast, it was almost instantaneous.  This was repeated about 3-4 times.  Then we went back to throwing colors and wishing everyone a "Happy Holi."

To make us ever more strange, we then went to Cafe Rio (I don't suggest this restaurant, not a favorite of mine) and had lunch/dinner all chalked up.  We were a crazy sight and people were asking what was going on.  One suggested to mark my territory as I might be lost w/ all the color/camouflage.

It was definitely a joyous afternoon.  I enjoyed celebrating the coming spring this way.  And it would not hurt too much if it also helped with the season of love... 

Happy Holi!