Holi Festival is a Hindu festival to the ‘god of nature’. It is also called the festival of colors because all the colorful flowers will soon be in bloom. It is a time to recognize the beginning of spring. As a way to celebrate people take chalk dust in various colors and rub the bright colors in their hair and across their faces. Some even put the colorful dust on their clothing, on cows and dogs. To show that spring is the beginning of growing season, the time when the rice paddies are planted, people walk in a procession balancing a small clay flowerpot on their head. The pot, with a single seedling growing in it, is taken to the river where the plant is symbolically watered.
I sat in a car by the side of the road watching these sights and more while Jonathan, the administrator of the LOT Home purchased watermelons and other items from the market. As I waited a parade of colorful people go past; all were busy, moving, going about their daily lives. I was on my way to Relli, India to see some very special children!
When I arrive in Kalimpong I see the city is throbbing with Holi celebrations. Droves of many people are painted from head to toe in bright colors, some look like the ‘tin man’ from Wizard of Oz because they are painted in silver. Loud music is pounding in the streets; young people are break dancing. This city has erupted into mass celebration.
