Pushkar Holi - Festival of Colors in True Sense

It's HOLI the next day and the holy little town is full of festivities. In all major chawks people are lighting fire for the ceremony called Holika Dahan, and rituals are being performed by the locals. People from around the world in their Indian traditional attire are gathered here to witness it. Celebration, fun, laughter and music is in the air. While purohit is busy performing rituals, people are busy clicking and recording to capture the moment. Ceremony ends and atmosphere gets filled with music and sound of dhol. I found myself dancing surrounded by people from all over the world connected by the sense of celebration.

And the big day is here. We all dressed in our best whites start towards the market.
 The first one we met on the street is a sweet English lady who with a broad smile and red color packet in her hand, wishes us. We are going global :).
Little farther we meet some kids who playfully apply color to us all. And that's how meeting unknown people from varied backgrounds and countries we reach warah ghat where everyone has gathered.

The atmosphere is full of colors. Everyone is wishing each other, applying colors and dancing to the tunes of music playing in the background. In the streets, I see local kids smeared in colors and playing with whosoever happens to cross them. Mithai wali gali is open and people are enjoying kachori and malpuas.

And hey wait a minute, what is this that I see!? Some shirts in the air, and many more on the floor. Yes someone did tell me that it's kapdaphad holi were all guys are stripped off their shirts. Some sight it was... everyone was very respectfully wishing holi to the female while stripping the male counterparts. After a point no one was allowed to go with their shirts on.

Kapda phad Holi - It was fun!                                 Picture by Vinod Verma

The streets are full of people, it is estimated that more than 20,000 people visited Puskar on the day of Holi. It was a mega event that left me overwhelmed with joy and happiness.

I had read some articles where it was mentioned girls need to be very careful and that it is not meant for them. I was a bit skeptical in the beginning but believe me not even a single time did I feel unsafe. So ladies feel free and go out celebrate the day that is meant for celebration.

Picture by Vinod Verma