BURA NA MAANO --Holi Hai!!

:Last week, March 28, 2021 was Holi. The festival of Color.  But I hardly remember dates....and days.  Even though easter is about and I will post some old easter posts next week...by which it would be late, I still wanted to share this Holi post.  Pay attention to how every culture in the north had a spring festival.  Since Christianity has been normalised, people forget that easter was actually imposed on pagan holidays that celebrated spring.  Next week, you can read more about easter and see that both Holi and Easter are celebrated with COLOR.

First published on March 10, 2020 here it is, since nature is dancing in all its colors...enjoy and dance with it....(this is actually 2-3 posts in one, the first one was published in 2010, then 2014, then 2018, 2020, and now 2021.  Each time something was added, pictures, words, memories. 

Happy Spring

Temples invite mandir mandlis (sort of singing minstrels associated with temples)--to send their stars dressed as Gods and Goddesses to visit. Bringing Krishna and Radha is one of the most common. Here, a young woman is dressed as Radha.  

Krishna, known as complete man, and who played all roles in his life, from son to brother to friend to lover to a warrior is most celebrated in his form with his consort, Shri Radhaji, his childhood companion.  

They were never married but their love is supposed to be pure and eternal.  A sign of Hindu thinking, Krishna is celebrated not as victim, nor as a warrior but as the greatest lover.  In a society where premarital relations are still frowned upon, Krishna is celebrated with the woman who loved him more than herself (will share the stories at some point) and never married him.  The love that does not get acceptance in society, gets celebrated in temples. That's Hinduism, you cannot contain it nor can you  compare it to anything else....

Last published on March 3, 2018--Its that time of the year again when colors are returning, winter is receding,--in India spring is at its peak.

And March 10, 2020 is HOLI....!!

Wanna know more?? Here read this brilliant two part essay on the MANY SHADES OF HOLI!

Second part of the same article is here

Here are some images from last year when we hosted a prayer meeting and celebrated a 'dry' holi with powdered colors and flower petals!!

By the way, when people throw color at you or water, or hit you with a water balloon, that can sometimes hurt....this what they also say....BURA NA MAANO --Holi Hai  --Don't mind, its Holi after all!!

And if you do not have the time to read all that I have put here--since this is a long post--just watch this--Lathmaar Hli in Barsana--The bamboo stick holi-where women strike their men with sticks (I laugh when people say women in India are weak :)---please notice the man at 0:55 filming the whole thing....gives you a perspective of rural India...:)

And of course you can read here more about the Lathmar Holi.  The legend is that on this day Lord Krishna visited his 'object of affection' and with his friends teased the girls of the town and threw color on them.  Women in Barsana did not like it, and hit him with sticks and chased him away.  That's our Gods, filled with fun and laughter and not afraid to tease and not offended when beaten by women--so to keep that tradition, even today men from Nandgaon (the town where Lord Krishna is from) come to Barsana and women hit them and chase them away.  Only some of them consider it a blessing and sit and allow women hit them as they use a shield to cover them!!

Holi was India's valentine's day, and much older.  But with much more color than Valentine's day.  Men proposed women this day.  As wiki says, : Males also sing provocative songs in a bid to invite the attention of women.  Women then go on the offensive and use long staves called 'Lathis' to beat men folk who protect themselves with shields" 

Here you can learn some more about the festival in a short video detailing how this festival of love and color was celebrated and it significance.

Finally, and yes Finally, here is an old bollywood song. Not sharing new ones as the old ones have a charm, watch this and know what fun we associated it with this festival:  Here is another Bollywood, old song--  And here is the one talking about Phalgun --the month when holi comes, associated with spring. This song is bit on the classical side.  Btw, months according to Indian calendar are based on seasons and not on names of Kings etc. So Phalgun is spring,Saawan is monsoon Kartik is autumn etc. 

And I end with the one and age old folk song turned into Bollywood song, of love between two 60 year olds  married for decades: Holi Khele Raghuveera, Awadh mein, Holi Khele Raghuveera Means, Lord Raghu plays Holi in Awadh (name of the city). Songs associated with all our festivals actually names of our Gods, indicating how old Hinduism and its festivals are that our Gods from 1000s of years ago were also said to have played the festival.  Still the festival remains one favourite of Lord Krishna....

And what you see in the beginning of the his video is grinding of 'bhaang' a hemp plant.  yes, a hallucinogen, a drink is made out of it, with almonds, milk and sugar.  But having said that, we ordinary middle class folks knew nothing of it.  My cousin last year taught me that the use of hemp --in minimal amount--at this time of the year was also to remove toxins from the body and ready the body for the rest of the year... 

It will take a while to go through the entire post, but I hope you enjoy it.  If you have the time and want to share, do tell me what was the best part of the post.  Which song, or which article touched you the most....

Setting the altar up!!

Here is the altar, after the prayers ---Holi songs were sung and we all danced as we threw flower petals on each other...

Ah my world.  Two young women are my cousins, I grew up under their watch in some ways.  The one in the brown is so dear to me.  B, didi.  (didi means older sister). They lived in Delhi as well, and we visited them almost every week.  She taught  me so much, including the homemade, hand whipped cappuccino --if I have not made it for you yet, remind me when we meet and I will!!  It is delicious!!  The lady in Yellow is my dear -dear aunt.  My mother's older sister.  They have always lived about 4 hours drive away, and so we met every few months.  Or more, depending on if they needed to be in town for some reasons. We grew up in such a way that relatives were always visiting.  There was a sense of security in that.  Knowing the we had this 'padding' in life. My Maasi (mother's sister)  has also always been a social worker, without ever having to attend college.  She got married very young, since India was just dividing and no one knew what was going to happen.  Its like post war, people wanted to marry and have children to preserve life.  A few years ago she got life-achievement award from a local organisation for her information contribution to the community.  I don't think there is anyone in our extended family or even her neighbourhood who did not at one point wear a sweater knitted by her.  My all time memories are of her knitting as she talked.  And we think the educated ones are useful today...they can hardly contribute to community as these women have.  The lady in pink is her daughter.  I remember her as the cousin who has always been smiling no matter what the circumstances.  Always a joy on her face, I aspire to be like her.

Here is the clan, after all the guests had gone, the ladies got together for a very sisterly get together and the only man you see is my cousin brother.  A kind soul, who is always there to help others. And also since he is a little older I remember how he used to make a fool of us.  He told me that if I combined wheatflhour with turmeric and boiled it long enough, it will turn into GOLD--goodness, how many pots and pans I turned yellow because of that.... :) 

New additions to the family.   The young lady is B didi's daughter-in-law and her second born little boy.  The best thing about family is seeing how new members are added and how clans grow.  How people are assimilated into our ways, how they bring new ways of thinking.  I hope these traditions continue and that no one ever undermines the value of togetherness, and learning from older relatives. 

Republishing again--

Time goes fast....First published in 2010, then 2014--and now 2018--.....It was Holi a day ago!!  Wishing you all a very happy spring!

I have been meaning to write for months, on Holi.  May be years since I wrote this article in 2006.  But time is an issue.  I want to do justice to this special Indian holiday.  Regardless, I am republishing this story that was originally published on this blog on Friday, February 26, 2010. This year Holi coincided with St. Patrick’s day, on March 17, 2014. 

The following story was published in Fiji's Culture and Events newsletter in 2006. This year Holi is on March 1st. BasantPanchami was January 20, 2010.

Forty days, like number 9 is symbolic in many cultures. Like there are Novenas in Catholics, in India we have "Chaliyas" (Chaslis- Forty). A prayer or a resolve is taken for forty days. Often times used in the process of bargaining with God. And many times used in disciplining/ controlling/guiding our inner natures to a higher level. All religions use fasting, or some sort form of abstaining from things we enjoy to learn how we are actually freer when we have little needs, greeds and possesions.

And holi is perfect for that because this is one holiday that is not really associated with exchange of gifts, may be some sweets and food. We do not necessarily need new clothes, the old ones would do and no need to go to the salon before Holi!!

Happy Holi!! Holi Mubarak!! May the colors of spring this year reach your soul!!

The pictures below are from Holi 2009, in Fiji.

Holi Hai!!!

In the long list of Indian festivals, Diwali and Holi are the ones always associated with most vivid stories. If Diwali is the festival of lights, Holi is the festival of color.

Starting on Basant Panchami (Feb-1-2006), which marks the beginning of spring in North India, Holi, is a forty-day affair and falls on the full moon of the month of Phagun (Feb-March of Gregorian Calendar). Like all Indian festivals Holi, meaning to offer oblation, is associated with myriads of legends. The most common one is that of a young boy Prahlad, his father King Hiranyakashipa and his sister Holika. Prahlad, against the wishes of his father, worshiped Vishnu, an Indian God. When Prahlad ignored his father’s repeated requests to stop his devotion to Vishnu, an irate Hiranyakashipa sought Holika’s help. Holika, blessed with a boon by Agni, the Lord of Fire, could not be harmed by fire. To teach Prahlad a lesson, Hiranyakashipa asked Holika to walk through a burning fire as she held Prahlad in her arms. But no boon protects a sinner, and soon Holika was burnt to ashes and Prahlad emerged unhurt.

Indo-Fijians have maintained several of Holi’s traditions, especially the Chautal. Chautal is the name given to spring folk songs that speak of love, devotion to God and spring. Holi celebrations in Fiji begin with the tuning of a Dholak (Indian drums) on Basant Panchami. For 6 weeks between Panchami and Holi, families welcome spring by visiting each other and singing Chautal. The host usually provides light snacks, and each Chautal ends with funny anecdotes, something that all kids look forward to.

Being the favorite festival of Lord Krishna, Holi is also associated with uninhibited expression of love and affection. It is a welcome change to a society that prides itself in restricted show of physical affection. If you are a Bollywood follower, then without a doubt at some point you have watched at least one dance sequence where people splash color & water at each other as they wag their hips to Indian drums. In India, weeks before Holi, children get the ‘license’ to play with water balloons and Pichkaris (squirt guns). Although water balloons have been banned, youngsters continue to pelt their friends with water balloons.

The last three days of Holi are celebrated with great fervor. The third last day, the eldest member of the family begins with prayers and sprinkling color on each member of the family and youngsters follow the lead, the second last day, a bonfire is lit as a reminder of triumph of good over evil, and the last day, is reserved for fun, frolic and feast. As people shower their friends and family with color and spray water on them they scream Burra na Mano, holi hai!!! Please don’t mind, after all its Holi!!

If you want to experience Holi this year (March 14-15 2006), latch on to your Indian friends and join in the festival of color.

Bounty of Busy Bangkok: Aromas and Audio

Apologies for missing a week. The computer was away, used my old computer and just could not bring myself to write. Realised even though I have several other places where I write and contribute and just began one other blog, there is something 'homey' about this one. 

Thailand remains my all time love. Asia --in general excites me. 

I return to this FOR YOU ALL.   Even though this is hidden, it gets nearly 400 hits a month. 

Regardless, here is a blog from August 22, 2011, so nearly a decade ago.  This blog amazes me.  I surprise myself, with the amount of work that has been a part of this blog.

Thanks all for reading and returning and reading. 

__________________________

Bangkok is a jungle, people will say.  And in many ways it is.  The second time I arrived there, in 2009 (the first time was ages ago), I came from Wellington, New Zealand's capital.  Bangkok was nothing like is Kiwi counterpart.  A capital city ...yes, but that is where comparison stopped.  Bangkok has nearly times and a half the population of entire New Zealand.  The first time I came to Bangkok from Botswana.  A country of less than 2 million people.  And my first thought was 'wow, this city must use the same amount of electricity that Kanye does in a year.'  Kanye was the little town/village in the South of Botswana that I called home.  The first year there was no electricity at my school.  I ended up using candles and kerosene to light my little house.  That was a big change from growing up in New Delhi.  So, a stop in Bangkok for someone who called Kanye home was 'truly illuminating'!!  Strangely enough it did not seem any less stark from Wellington NZ.  Unilke NZ which was organized and maintained a certain 'English Subtlety' Bangkok was brazen, daring and demure at the same time. 

At 5.7 million people, Bangkok though still much less populated than New Delhi, is like a live wire.  Absolutely alive, electric, life giving, bright and yet at times dangerous. 

I have to admit though that the danger is not nearly as much as the beauty of the city.  As much as the city gives you.....

There are sites to see and 

smells to smell, 

sounds to hear, 

of horns and bells

The city offers you everything....what you find in the city is only a reflection of who you are...

I am short of time --so I will let pictures do most of the talking.

Anyone who has heard of Bangkok must have also heard of tuk-tuks.  Tuks-tuks are the Thai version of Indian 'three wheelers'.  Slightly wider than three-wheelers (or scooters are they are called in India), Tuk-tuks not always covered on three sides like scooters.  But just like their Indian counter part, because of their shape, they are speedier, and offer the passengers much more adventure.  By shape, I do not mean the mechanical advantage or any such 'technical' aspect.  I mean because of their shape, their drivers can take much more liberty in driving.  Tuk-tuk's triangular shape allows them to break the traffic rules without offending the other royal vehicles.  

US!!.  We decided to see the Grand Palace.  One of the most toursity of places in Bangkok.  But would it be fun if we took a taxi?  Absolutely not!! So we crammed in a tuk-tuk and 'doubled our fun!!'

Where else but Bangkok can you see shocking pink cabs.  By the way, there are about four colors of cabs in Bangkok.  The cabs alone add a splash of color to the streets.

No matter how many times I have seen them, I still stop dead in my tracks when I see a Monk.  And start clicking my camera like a mad person.  

Monks: The regular and raggity shopping centre outside Wat Mahathat.  There are regular shops, quite fancy.  And then the street vendors just crowd it, leaving little space for onlookers, and customers.  But that is the joy....there is so much to see that one never gets bored!!

One of the delights of Bangkok is its street food.  And for non vegetarians it is a heaven!!  I have never been able to keep track of all the variety available on the streets.  This was my third time in the country and every time I have discovered new foods. A young woman from Switzerland said that she had been living in Bangkok for a more than a year and still she discovers a new street food or new fruit or vegetable every so often!! Bounty!!

Here the man makes mini pancakes, stuff them with sweet filling, rolls them and puts them on the side....ready to be sold. 

I just walked into an alley that was perpendicular to the street shown above. Lo and Behold, I was in another world.  That is the joy of Asia.  Little streets open into other little streets.  This is a much organized version of street restaurants that you will find all over south east asia.  Most of these are unorganized, haphazard, but very functional.  This set up may be jointly used by several small 'noodle/pad thai shops.'  Many young people meet here for dinner after work, before heading home. I am told not many people in Bangkok cook.  

Right after the street restaurant was a string of fortune tellers.  Ah just my luck, they seemed good, and I could afford them but we did not speak the same language.  I am seriously thinking of learning Thai.  I can already count till ten!! ha, ha..

Ah finally, I had been looking for this one.  Last time I found them in Thailand and Laos.  Pancakes is what they call them.  But they are not the kind of pancakes we are used to.  These are more like fried rotis/chappatis, the Indian bread.  Only stuffed.  Although plain ones are available, my favorite ones are cheese and banana.  You can get them in various flavors.  Cheese, Banana, nutella, plain sugar, pineapple etc. I went to this vendor twice.  By the end of the day, I knew I had had enough sugar for this lifetime......but that did not stop me from eating just one more.....

So this was one of the many new foods I discovered this time. Well, wanna guess what this is? 

Plain bananas being roasted.  The healthiest of foods.  Once roasted the bananas are then peeled and flattened. Some times, instead of flattening them a stick is inserted so people eat them like popsickles.  Very healthy, unless ofcourse you say 'yes' to the 'coconut sugar sauce that comes with it!!"

Dont ask me what this is.  Half the time I do not try anything for the fear of biting into something 'meaty' but am fascinated by how many ways can we use the same foods to honor our taste buds!!

Ok, I have forgotten what this is.  Will have to get back to you all for that one.  The smaller version of this is called 'longan'.  But this one....I was in a rush so just took a picture and boarded my bus.  

Asia is known for variety.....of the people, of food, of culture, even diversity of thought.  But there is a kind of unity of thought.  Even in the communist countries like Vietnam, there is a belief of reincarnation.  I am not sure whether or not that is true.  But I do believe the idea of reincarnation originated from the basic understanding that 'life continues' and that what we know is very narrow.  We will never know it all.  The universe and its ways are much more complicated than what we can comprehend.  And while we acknowledge that, let us celebrate the diversity that we see on the surface....because at the heart of it all...all is ONE !!

Siblings: Spring and Semla

I missed it this year. The light dessert that I love so much!!  But am going to see if any of the shops are still carrying it.  Here is a link to an old post where I detail the lovely buns filled with cream and marzipan and are so 'typically' spring dessert.  This link will take you to the first post I ever wrote about this, and how I just fell in love with it!!  There is also video of Persian celebration of Nowruz.