Holi Moly! (& so much more)

As some of you saw on social media, Holi was celebrated in early March, and Chris and I arrived in Delhi just in time to experience it in full and explosive color! Northern India celebrates with more abandon than a tamer southern India (which includes Pune). :-)

First, let's back up to March 5, when we traveled from Kerala (see previous 2 posts) to Pune, where Chris finally got to meet Nini! (Don't tell me this guy doesn't ADORE her as much as I do...)

We only had 3 days in Pune, so we packed it in with...

(1) ...a gathering I organized for my Pune friends -- college colleagues, friends, connections (a few more than are shown in this photo) -- at Terrasinne restaurant, built on principles of social justice, equity, and sustainability. (I have mentioned this place in a previous post, but here's the link again if you are interested in taking a look) ...

(2) ... a few city sights including Shaniwar Wada -- a fort built in 1742 during the era of the Peshwas (prime ministers during the Maratha Empire); a walk up the local Panchavati Hill; and a visit to the well-known Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati (Ganesh) Temple...

Shaniwar Wada (fort)

Spiked door at the fort

Shaniwar Wada (fort)

Shaniwar Wada (fort)

offering for the temple visit

Ganesh temple

evening walk, nearby hill

(3) ... and visits with my neighbors (landlord's family) and my friend Triveni & her husband Amitabh, including seeing a number of evening fires and bonfires as part of the first day of Holi. The fires burn wood and cow patties, and are lit all over the city streets. Amitabh gifted Chris a gorgeous embroidered stole called a "gamosa" to wear on special occasions. It is traditional from Assam and is gifted as a mark of respect.

cow patties for holi fires

holi bonfire ready to light

community bonfire

another community bonfire

individual fire

temple fire

Amitabh & Chris (w/gift)

THEN -- On March 7th we flew from Pune to Delhi where we stayed with my very dear friends Priyanka and Anupam. We celebrated HOLI with full joy, laughter, anarchy, and mess! First thing in the morning, after special holi-sweets for breakfast, I yelled to the neighborhood teens to come close where I could throw water balloons at them from Priyanka's balcony. They returned with a bucket of balloons, squirt guns, and powdered colors. Then more neighbors joined in the fun, and before long we were all a mishmash of water and color. We proceeded by car to a community that had a HUGE PARTY going on -- more mishmash of color and water -- and then to a friend's home for a family party and, you guessed it, more mishmash of color and water. (The tradition is to smear the powders on someone, and then reciprocate the action, while saying "happy holi." And then break into a free-for-all of creating the biggest color-mess possible.) There is an expression that goes बुरा न मानो होली है -- "burra na mano, holi hai" -- "take no offense, it's holi." 😂. (Also -- It totally cracked me up that the security guards -- so serious in their jobs of keeping these events safe -- were also covered in colors. 😂 See photo below.). (Also -- my hair continues to retain vestiges of pink, green, and yellow... 😂 )

special sweets in syrup :-)

first covering of the day

community party

security at the party

Too much fun?

Colors everywhere!

Anupam & his friends

Chris with one of A's friends

more colors!

Oh, there is still MORE TO SHARE in regard to our time with friends in Delhi, but I will make another post in a few days. STAY TUNED! Chris is now safely back home in Maine, and I am back in Pune where I carry on with my responsibilities.

I will end this post here, with two videos of the community holi party. Imagine yourself there! (In the first video, the woman to the right looking at me who raises up her arms is Priyanka.)