Holi, for real this time! After Prem Baba's satsang on Tuesday evening, I walked back to Ramjulah, where I was expected for dinner at Swati's at 8pm. The eve of Holi is called mini-Holi, and is when people have celebratory family dinners. Swati and her mother-in-law prepared a delicious thali and lots of yummy sweets. I was so grateful to be invited for this meal. Snapped a few pics, then Swati's mother-in-law brought me down to the Ganga, where a gigantic bonfire was getting ready for lighting, and people were getting ready for dancing. The fire, when lit, created such intense heat that the crowds had to back away significantly. And when the festive music was turned up real loud, the dancing got out of control. Indian men love to dance. There was jumping and clapping and colored powder throwing galore. I sat with Swati's mother-in-law, watching, absorbing, taking it all in, marvelling at the fact that I was there, experiencing it all.
On the day of Holi, the 27th, the festivities take place mostly between 9am and noon. So Trika classes were cancelled that morning. Slept in until 8:30! Felt so good after going to bed exhausted the night before. At 9, I headed out into the streets (a risky and stressful thing to do on the morning of Holi - as I mentioned in the last blog, Holi is a nation-wide powder-throwing and water-fight war). I made sure to dress in scruffy clothes, and was almost running on my way to Swati's. Phew, made it there un-attacked, only about 3 minutes away. I was going to spend the morning with Swati and her family, in the safety of their rooftop. Great vantage point to watch all the craziness happening below, and great place to attack from! We filled a few water balloons to be launched onto unsuspecting victims, Amit and Arnav even equipped with heavy-duty water guns. We had our own little bags of fluorescent powder, which we playfully covered each other with. (In the streets, the powder throwing can get pretty aggressive, as Blaire and I experienced in Goa last year.) Lots of great photos and videos were taken from the rooftop, special Holi treats were eaten, and it was a fun, fantastic morning. Around noon, as the Holi war began losing momentum, it was time to head out for some blogging, then back to my room for a thorough shower scrub before my last massage class at 2. As I was heading out from Swati's a couple of the kids I had been filming below were just behind me. They followed me quietly as I walked out the entranceway, but as soon as I stepped out into the street, they giggled, yelled out in excitement, and poured a whole bucket of water onto me. Drenched and laughing, I made my way to Krishna Cottage internet to write the previous blog, dripping onto the floor.
Home for shower, then massage day 7 to learn how to do facials. Lady friends back home, you're in for a treat! Trika pm class at 4, followed by an excellent Karma Yoga lecture from 6-8. And up to my room for a much needed sleep after another busy day.
A few Google images to give you a taste of Holi:
On the day of Holi, the 27th, the festivities take place mostly between 9am and noon. So Trika classes were cancelled that morning. Slept in until 8:30! Felt so good after going to bed exhausted the night before. At 9, I headed out into the streets (a risky and stressful thing to do on the morning of Holi - as I mentioned in the last blog, Holi is a nation-wide powder-throwing and water-fight war). I made sure to dress in scruffy clothes, and was almost running on my way to Swati's. Phew, made it there un-attacked, only about 3 minutes away. I was going to spend the morning with Swati and her family, in the safety of their rooftop. Great vantage point to watch all the craziness happening below, and great place to attack from! We filled a few water balloons to be launched onto unsuspecting victims, Amit and Arnav even equipped with heavy-duty water guns. We had our own little bags of fluorescent powder, which we playfully covered each other with. (In the streets, the powder throwing can get pretty aggressive, as Blaire and I experienced in Goa last year.) Lots of great photos and videos were taken from the rooftop, special Holi treats were eaten, and it was a fun, fantastic morning. Around noon, as the Holi war began losing momentum, it was time to head out for some blogging, then back to my room for a thorough shower scrub before my last massage class at 2. As I was heading out from Swati's a couple of the kids I had been filming below were just behind me. They followed me quietly as I walked out the entranceway, but as soon as I stepped out into the street, they giggled, yelled out in excitement, and poured a whole bucket of water onto me. Drenched and laughing, I made my way to Krishna Cottage internet to write the previous blog, dripping onto the floor.
Home for shower, then massage day 7 to learn how to do facials. Lady friends back home, you're in for a treat! Trika pm class at 4, followed by an excellent Karma Yoga lecture from 6-8. And up to my room for a much needed sleep after another busy day.
A few Google images to give you a taste of Holi:
Wow, Erika, those photos are fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI didn't take them, but yes, they are!
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