Holi 2013

Last year we were in Mumbai during Holi.
It is a festival I love and hate.

I love the colors, the happiness, the concept. And it is one of the most photogenic events that I know.

I hate the dangers and inconveniences of the color powder and colored water. With a sensitive skin like mine, I have to avoid all substances on my skin. Knowing that many of the used powders nowadays are chemical and even toxic makes it extra scary for me. Also for blond people like myself, the colors may get really inside your hairs, so that I might even have to cut it to remove the color!

In other words: love to watch, hate to participate. Too bad, cause if safe I would love to play along!

Anyway, this year we were in Pune and I looked forward to going out and taking some pictures. Unfortunately we had to travel that day. We flew from Pune to Goa.

When we were about to leave the hotel for the airport, they (kindly) insisted on taking us to the spot they had designated for them to celebrate Holi with the guests.

Take a look at the pictures of staff and guests having fun:

Rangoli or Kolam

Let’s first look at the staff:

Normally we see people in their hotel uniform or costume. Therefor this was the first time that I discovered the large tattoo on the arm of Joshua on the left. It is a phoenix and a Harry Potter magic spell. Joshua turned out to be a huge Harry Potter fan, like myself;-).

Beers at 10 in the morning…yayks…hahaha

Then there were some guests that happily participated. Anxious to know how many guests finally participated that day….

The fact that we were about to fly was an acceptable excuse not to throw with the powder at us. We said ok to a request to then at least put this blue smudge on our foreheads;-).

While on our way in the taxi we saw people covered in colors everywhere:

Because of the dramatic drought this year, a Dry Holi was strongly advised this year. And indeed did we see not many of the well known water guns (see picture below) used this year. Good!!!

When we arrived in Goa, on the beach in Calangute, people were also celebrating Holi, like this group of women:

So although I initially was a bit disappointed that we had to travel on Holi this year, I ended up enjoying enough of it anyway.

It sure remains a beautiful sight, all these colored people!

Did you ever play Holi? How was it? Did you experience any problems with the colors? On skin, eyes, hair or breathing?
I hope you share your experience in a comment;-)