Holy Holi Holiday!!

March 26th began as a quiet tuesday in the small city of Baglung. Shops were closed tight and naught but an occasional motorcycle rolled by. From a distance, the ghost-town gave one the feeling of a war zone. But on the ground the sense of communal playfulness washed over everyone – along with colored water. Wise adults stayed inside, as many roof tops and balconies were armed with water balloons, water buckets and water pistols, ready to drench any un-watchful passerby. This made many sections of street impassable for those undesireous of a shower. Gangs of young men roamed the streets together, collectively attacking lone wanderers with handfuls of colored powder. “Happy Holi!” they’d shout as they smeared it across your face and hair. A small faction also carried eggs, which they mercilessly smashed on people’s heads (tourists, ahem, are especially targeted…) At major intersections, groups played music and danced, throwing clouds of red, green and purple color into the air between buckets of water. Small children ran around in front of their homes, giggling and splashing one another, and occasionally nailing strangers with water balloons..

This day, Holi, is the Hindu festival of colors. Like many Hindu festivals, it commemorates the defeat of a demon by a hindu God after several days of battle, in this case God Bishnu’s defeat of the demoness Holika. The plazas in major cities are packed tight with celebrators throwing all colors of the rainbow at one another. I’m strongly considering planning my trip to India at this time next year, so I can experience Holi at a metropolis scale. The impact of my first Holi left my forehead stained pink for a few days. Now, one week later, my hair remains tinted. Perhaps a metropolitan Holi would dye it completely?