Holi is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as a festival of colours. It is celebrated by throwing colours, scented powders, perfumes on others. One of Holi’s biggest customs is the loosening strictness of social structures, which normally include age, sex, status, and caste. Holi closes the wide gaps between social classes and brings Hindus together. Together, the rich and poor, women and men, enjoy each other’s presence on this joyous day. Additionally, Holi lowers the strictness of social norms. No one expects polite behavior; as a result, the atmosphere is filled with excitement and joy.
Originally, it was a festival that commemorated good harvests and the fertile land. In addition to celebrating the coming of spring, Holi has even greater purposes. Hindus believe it is a time of enjoying spring’s abundant colors and saying farewell to winter.
Even I can’t recognize me!
After a long period, I am in Ranchi during this time. Also, Babai is with us. In the morning, the people from our apartment came and assembled at the sidewalk of the parking for Holi. Jaya and I also went down. We enjoyed throwing, spreading colours, coloured powders on each other along with water. It was good that weather was nice and so we could meet, greet people with water and colours. Then we all had some sweets before returning to our house for cleaning and bathing. Cleaning our bodies of colours is a big exercise during bath. Anyway, this all adds to the fun.
In the afternoon, I drove to the house of our ex-neighbor with Jaya and Babai for lunch. They invited us for lunch at their place. In the evening, I drove with Jaya and Babai to Doranda, where we used to stay long time back to meet and greet our old friends and again played with colours but without waters. We chatted, enjoyed and dined together. The kids were playing even before returning to home after dinner!
Babai with Gaurav & Nidhi
We enjoyed Holi a lot even after a gap of about 10 years with our friends in Doranda. Tomorrow is the journey day. I will return to Baghdad and Babai will return to Gangtok. I am feeling very sad for Jaya as she will be alone again at home.
