HOLI - A SPRING HARVEST FESTIVAL

HOLI AND ITS COLOURS

The Holi Bonfire

JUST LIKE MARCH EVERY YEAR IN MOST OF NORTHERN INDIA, IT IS TIME FOR 
SPRINGTIME FESTIVITIES IN THE WAKE OF WINTER HARVESTS. THE BONFIRE 
(above) IS LIT ON THE OCCASION OF HOLI CELEBRATED OVER MUCH OF THE
COUNTRY'S NORTHERN HALF. TIME FOR WOOLENS ARE DEFINITELY OVER AND 
SOON ITS GOING TO BE SUMMER - THE TYPICAL HEAT AND DUST TYPE. PEOPLE 
SIT AROUND THE FIRE ALL NIGHT TO THE SOUNDS OF MUSIC UNDER THE FULL 
MOON. THE EMBERS ARE GOING TO TURN INTO ASHES BY EARLY MORNING AND  
PEOPLE SMEAR IT ON EACH OTHER AND CONTINUE PLAYING WITH COLOURS, 
WATER AND SOMETIMES MUD. LATE IN THE AFTERNOON IT IS TIME FOR A BATH 
AND A THOROUGH SCRUB.

This is how the holi bonfire is set up 

THIS IS WHAT THE BONFIRE LOOKS DURING THE DAYTIME WHEN IT IS SET UP
WITH LOGS OF WOOD AND STICKS. SOME PEOPLE WORSHIP WITH OFFERINGS OF
FLOWERS AND STICKS OF FRESHLY HARVESTED WHEAT AND GRAM - CROPS THAT AREGROWN IN THE WINTERS. 

Girl selling flowers, grain sheafs and cow dung cakes that keep the fire going