Holi Festival of Colours

Festivals heralding the arrival of Spring exist in every culture.



As usual, India has the most colorful variation, with the best food and the most fun.



It is called Holi, a Hindu celebration involving bonfires, the throwing of colored powders, and exuberant mayhem.



I had a freelance job in Silicon Valley last week for a company that employs the usual global mixture found at tech companies...



...including a sizeable East Indian contingent.



Holi this year fell on Wednesday, March 27th, and after a huge Indian feast in the lunchroom, a group of employees ended the work day in the parking lot with the tossing of colored powders at each other.



As the Wikipedia entry puts it, "Holi lowers (but does not remove completely) the strictness of social norms, which includes gaps between age, gender, status, and caste. Together, the rich and poor, women and men, enjoy each other’s presence on this day. No one expects polite behavior; as a result, the atmosphere is filled with excitement, fun and joy."



The celebration was a blast, and though I tried to stay out of the colored fray, the gentleman above was having none of it, and eventually paintbombed me with intense pinkish red powder. It is still coming out of my clothes.