The 'Festival of Holi' is one of the oldest and major festivals of India. This year's festival took place on the 1st of march 2010.
The origin of this festival is related to Holika Dahan and to the legend of Radha Krishnan.
Holika Dahan is the lighting of bonfires - symbolic of victory of good over evil. The demon king Hiranyakashyap wished to end his blessed son's (Prahlad) life with the help of his sister ( Holika) who burnt in the fir and no harm occurred to Prahlad. So the burning of the bonfires became symbolic of the victory of good over evil.
The legend of Radha and Krishna told of young Krishna ( who was of dark complexion) becoming very jealous of his beloved Radha who was extremely fair-skinned. In a mischievous mood he applied colour on Radha's face. Following this legend, lovers long to colour their beloved faces as an expression of their love.
That Monday morning pakdokter's entourage managed to witness a group of kids along the streets of Khajuraho celebrating the 'Festival of Holi'. With blaring Bollywood Dance Music, the kids sang and danced and sprayed coloured water on each other - not unlike the Songkhran Water Festival of Thailand at the beginning of summer. All this was done in good fun with no offence meant.
used in preparing the coloured solution
to be sprayed on others in the Holi Festival...
After cruising the streets and taking photo-shoots to record this festival we decided to indulge in 'retail therapy' - and to our good luck, the textile shops were open and we were welcomed by the shopowner with a coloured 'puttu' to our forehead as an expression of welcome and love in the spirits of the "Festival of Holi'. The shop that we spent the whole morning at specialised in kurtas, kurtis, salwar and dupattas mostly from Lucknow. Most of us went home with a fair amount new ethnic Indian wardrobe.
pakdokter with a bright red 'puttu' on the forehead..
pakdokter with the small family of the Lucknow textile shop...
two young and handsome boys of the shopkeeper...
the youngest brother was anxious at being photographed...
lovely finely embroidered cotton kurtas...
Ravee in deep thoughts as pakdokter's partner tried out for size....
bargaining for best price...actually they are very cheap....
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