HOLI!!!

---

Not much time to write now, but will write more later. More photos and comments on photos to come as well...
Holi (pronounced just like 'holy')=one of the biggest festivals in India
Festival of color (just like Diwali is the festival of light)
Basic summary of the day: run around and throw color and water on everyone that you can as a sign of friendship.
One of the most memorable and happiest days of my life so far.

---

Photos

My Photos
Every year, there's a color war between the SIP students and the guest house kitchen staff. Gabriel prepared an elaborate and aggressive plan of attack.

My Photos
Like I said, aggressive

My Photos
and detailed...

My Photos
oil in the hair=easier to wash out the color afterward

My Photos
a 'before' picture. the bandana did not stay on my head for long

My Photos
in an effort to prepare his troops, gabriel insisted upon stretches at 9 am

My Photos
after 45 min or so. everyone's face turned a new color every five minutes as we got covered with more and more layers.

My Photos
the kitchen staff didn't come out until later, and we were too excited to use our bags of color, so it was a free-for-all for awhile, one that included big buckets of water and water pumps. i was fortunate/unfortunate target of an entire bucket of water. then someone put powder on my hair immediately afterward, so my hair became green paste. pretty cool, huh? :)

My Photos
oops, this is very out of order...

Comments

[Mom/Shruti]

No kidding Holi!!
Hey Priya: That looked like it was a blast! Nothing like Holi in India. So glad you got to experience it in person finally after me telling you guys how much fun it is to celebrate Holi for real in India. Love you and hope you got your nostrils, ears, hair and various other parts cleaned off! Mom

[Jyoti Masiji]

Wow!
Priya, You are so lucky!! I love Holi...can you see us celebrating it up in the frozen north?! What a blast. I remember the last time we celebrated Holi in India was 1976 and it was definetly one of the "funnest" days in my childhood as well. You should ask Nani what the chachas used to do to her. love ya. Jyoti Masiji

[Raji]

I am envious!
Hi Priya, This is the first time I am looking at your blogs. Seems like you are having quite an experience. I am so envious of you. Getting drenched in colors definitely beats grading student papers. I loved your aggressive strategy for the holi fight. Keep the photos coming. You look great! Raji Btw, I hope you get to see Shreya some day....maybe if we actually meet up in India this summer. You can be her mentor :)

[anonymous]

Priya, great photos. Looks like you had the time of your life. Jyoti and I are jealous - we could use some color here in the frozen arctic... love, Una

[gudu]

fun!!
Hi Priya, First time visiting your blog. What an adventure in India and added fun during Holi! Be safe and soak in the whole experience. You'll never forget it!

[Ellen]

awesome
That looks so happy!!