Sunday 4 April 2010

Hyderabad: Holi

Holi is also called the Festival of Colors. The spring festival is a big celebration there.

This year it fell on the first of March. Early in the morning, 2 water tankers were hired to the Malaysian Township just for that purpose. Towering speakers were added to the parking lot and a film crew from Tv9 was also present.

The revelry had already started by the time I got down there. But it wasn't until an hour later that the merry-making was in full swing. Before long, the tarmac ground was awash in pink and purple. To see the full gallery of merry-makers, please head over to my flickr gallery.

It was a very extraordinary experience for me. I had never seen so many people, from toddlers to the elderly, splashing each other with colored water and dancing to the blaring music. When I asked a local what was the meaning of the festival, the answer he gave was that this is to be a time when people set aside their differences and celebrate together. The cultural, historical or religious reasons aside, I think his was a very apt answer. In a land where heirachy was still very clear cut on many accounts, these were scenes in which you wouldn't believe any division existed especially between genders and age.

The laughter, the swaying hands raised in-tune to the deafening songs, women joining hands and shoulders to from swirling and circular queues, colored dust thrown to the wind, all these made the festive joy so palpable in the air.

We had our share of fun. I will definitely call this the highlight of my 2 months in Hyderabad.

What a privileged to be there at this time of the year!

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