This year Anu & I were in Jaipur (Hindi: जयपुर) on 11th March 2009 during the festival of HOLI. Here are pictures from the celebrations.
Holi – the festival of color is marked as the opening festival in Hindu calendar and it falls on the full moon day in the month of PHALGUN in the lunar calendar. People enjoy themselves playing with several colours and celebrate the whole day. Originally Holi was regarded to be the festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land. The main day, Holi, also known as Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other either from water guns, ballons or buckets. Bonfires are lit the previous evening, also known as Holika Dahan (death of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi). The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad had when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion. This year the celebrations were a bit subdued due to water scarcity as well as the timing coinciding with the school examinations. All the same it was fun!
Holi – the festival of color is marked as the opening festival in Hindu calendar and it falls on the full moon day in the month of PHALGUN in the lunar calendar. People enjoy themselves playing with several colours and celebrate the whole day. Originally Holi was regarded to be the festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land. The main day, Holi, also known as Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other either from water guns, ballons or buckets. Bonfires are lit the previous evening, also known as Holika Dahan (death of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi). The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad had when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion. This year the celebrations were a bit subdued due to water scarcity as well as the timing coinciding with the school examinations. All the same it was fun!
Tourists and foreigners as well as locals enjoying themself immensely. Holi the Festival of Colours being celebrated in Jaipur, the Capital city of Rajasthan, India. Due to water conservation, the celebration that normally includes lots of water, spraying, splashing & ballon throwing was celebrated only with dry colours.
Tourists and foreigners as well as locals enjoying themself immensely. Holi the Festival of Colours being celebrated in Jaipur, the Capital city of Rajasthan, India. Due to water conservation, the celebration that normally includes lots of water, spraying, splashing & ballon throwing was celebrated only with dry colours.
