Happy Holi

I think that this may be the best festival/holiday that I've ever heard of but don't get to celebrate (it started March 22 and ends today). It's called Holi, and is is the festival that carries India and its people into the bright days of summer. (yes, I cut and pasted that part in...I can't describe it better than that)

But the best part is what they do on Holi. Coloured powder (Gulal) is bought and prepared, long syringes called 'pichkaris' are made ready and water balloons are bought and filled. Preparations are made to cook the special food items that are exclusively meant for this festival.

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. 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 'abeer' or 'gulal' to pay their respects to elders by sprinkling some on their feet. The younger crowd is drenched with buckets of coloured water and pummeled with water balloons. 'Dholaks' or Indian drums are heard everywhere and the songs of Holi are carried by the voices of these merry-makers. (More cutting and pasting...hey, I'm no expert on this!)
Women with gulal on them.
I'm sitting here jealous that I don't live in India for the first time in my life. How much fun does that sound? How amazing would all those colours flying all over the place look? I suppose I'll just have to sit here and look at pictures. *sigh*

If you're a keener like I am, read a bit more about it here.