Festivals of India - March 2017

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    Festivals of IndiaHola MohallaHoliIndia festivalsKavant fairKavant gherKavant mela

  • Some scenes from a day in Old Delhi. From his bicycle the vendor is selling kadhi chawal.. Kadhi is a type of curry made with garbanzo bean (chickpea) flour, yogurt, vegetables and spices. Chawal is rice.-

    Some scenes from a day in Old Delhi. From his bicycle the vendor is selling kadhi chawal.. Kadhi is a type of curry made with garbanzo bean (chickpea) flour, yogurt, vegetables and spices. Chawal is rice.-

    Chandni ChowkOld Delhi.kadhikadhi chawal

  • Worker at a flower (mainly marigolds) distribution shop.

    Worker at a flower (mainly marigolds) distribution shop.

    Chandni ChowkDelhiOld Delhi

  • Goods porters in Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi.

    Goods porters in Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi.

    Chandni ChowkDelhiOld Delhi

  • Tea break.

    Tea break.

    Chandni ChowkDelhiOld Delhi

  • Proprietor of a shop selling nuts.

    Proprietor of a shop selling nuts.

    Chandni ChowkDelhiOld Delhi

  • Several days before Holi, the festival of [throwing] colors - - a vendor of ...... colors.

    Several days before Holi, the festival of [throwing] colors - - a vendor of ...... colors.

    Chandni ChowkDelhiHoliOld Delhi

  • Volunteer kitchen workers at the Sikh temple, Sis Ganj Sahib, free meal program in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi.

    Volunteer kitchen workers at the Sikh temple, Sis Ganj Sahib, free meal program in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi.

    Chandni ChowkDelhiOld DelhiSis Ganj Sahib gurdwara. Sikh temple

  • Old Delhi.

    Old Delhi.

    Chandni ChowkDelhiOld Delhi

  • Old Delhi'

    Old Delhi'

    Chandni ChowkDelhiOld Delhi

  • Member of a street band - probably hired as part of a wedding celebration.

    Member of a street band - probably hired as part of a wedding celebration.

    Chandni ChowkDelhiOld Delhi

  • Same street band, different jacket.

    Same street band, different jacket.

    Chandni ChowkDelhiOld Delhi

  • A member of the celebrating group.

    A member of the celebrating group.

    Chandni ChowkDelhiOld Delhi

  • Old Delhi.

    Old Delhi.

    Chandni ChowkDelhiOld Delhi

  • Shop proprietor Old Delhi with pre-Holi "makeup". Note the swastika on his scarf - a symbol of Vishnu and Surya (the sun) in Hinduism.

    Shop proprietor Old Delhi with pre-Holi "makeup". Note the swastika on his scarf - a symbol of Vishnu and Surya (the sun) in Hinduism.

    Chandni ChowkDelhiHoliOld Delhiswastika

  • Gopinath Ji, Holi, widows Holi, widows' Holi, Hidu festival of colors, Vrindavan, Indian widows

    Gopinath Ji, Holi, widows Holi, widows' Holi, Hidu festival of colors, Vrindavan, Indian widows

    Gopinath JiGopinath temple VrindavanHindu festival of colorsHoliIndian widowsVrindavanwidows Holiwidows' Holi

  • Widow at Gopinath temple, Vrindavan, before the Holi activities.

    Widow at Gopinath temple, Vrindavan, before the Holi activities.

    Gopinath JiGopinath temple VrindavanHindu festival of colorsHoliIndian widowsVrindavanwidows Holiwidows' Holi

  • Another widow at Gopinath temple.

    Another widow at Gopinath temple.

    Gopinath JiGopinath temple VrindavanHindu festival of colorsHoliIndian widowsVrindavanwidows Holiwidows' Holi

  • Widows gathered before marigold petals in the courtyard of Gopinath temple.

    Widows gathered before marigold petals in the courtyard of Gopinath temple.

    Gopinath JiGopinath temple VrindavanHindu festival of colorsHoliIndian widowsVrindavanwidows Holiwidows' Holi

  • Widows begin to frolic with flower petals as Holi festivity begins.

    Widows begin to frolic with flower petals as Holi festivity begins.

    Gopinath JiGopinath temple VrindavanHindu festival of colorsHoliIndian widowsVrindavanwidows Holiwidows' Holi

  • Nothing is so glorious as to lie down and immerse yourself in flower petals during Holi!

    Nothing is so glorious as to lie down and immerse yourself in flower petals during Holi!

    Gopinath JiGopinath temple VrindavanHindu festival of colorsHoliIndian widowsVrindavanwidows Holiwidows' Holi

  • And the photographers move in. Widows' Holi has become a very trendy topic in India.

    And the photographers move in. Widows' Holi has become a very trendy topic in India.

    Gopinath JiGopinath temple VrindavanHindu festival of colorsHoliIndian widowsVrindavanwidows Holiwidows' Holi

  • Holi mayhem in the same courtyard at Gopinath temple!

    Holi mayhem in the same courtyard at Gopinath temple!

    Gopinath JiGopinath temple VrindavanHindu festival of colorsHoliIndian widowsVrindavanwidows Holiwidows' Holi

  • This photographer shot in the midst of the powder splashing. His camera is on the left with weather covering.

    This photographer shot in the midst of the powder splashing. His camera is on the left with weather covering.

    Gopinath JiGopinath temple VrindavanHindu festival of colorsHoliIndian widowsVrindavanwidows Holiwidows' Holi

  • A widow after the Holi festivity. The white forehead marking signifies a follower of Vishnu.

    A widow after the Holi festivity. The white forehead marking signifies a follower of Vishnu.

    Gopinath JiGopinath temple VrindavanHindu festival of colorsHoliIndian widowsVrindavanwidows Holiwidows' Holi

  • Several hours later we attended a more tranquil widows' Holi celebration at Ma Dham ashram in Vrindavan, a home for widows operated by the NGO Guild for Service. The widows began by plucking petals from flowers.

    Several hours later we attended a more tranquil widows' Holi celebration at Ma Dham ashram in Vrindavan, a home for widows operated by the NGO Guild for Service. The widows began by plucking petals from flowers.

    Gopinath JiGopinath temple VrindavanHindu festival of colorsHoliIndian widowsMa Dham ashramVrindavanwidows Holiwidows' Holi

  • And then the fun began. Happiness is splashing color at Holi!

    And then the fun began. Happiness is splashing color at Holi!

    Gopinath JiGopinath temple VrindavanHindu festival of colorsHoliIndian widowsMa Dham ashramVrindavanwidows Holiwidows' Holi

  • Even widows can frolic at Holi - after all these years.

    Even widows can frolic at Holi - after all these years.

    Gopinath JiGopinath temple VrindavanHindu festival of colorsHoliIndian widowsMa Dham ashramVrindavanwidows Holiwidows' Holi

  • One of the more unusual customs of Holi is Lath Mar Holi - women striking men with (stout) sticks - mostly to the legs. I learned of the custom in Barsana, close to Vrindavan, when I was surprised with a whack to my calf that smarted for several days. The men's staffs are to protect their legs, not for offense.

    One of the more unusual customs of Holi is Lath Mar Holi - women striking men with (stout) sticks - mostly to the legs. I learned of the custom in Barsana, close to Vrindavan, when I was surprised with a whack to my calf that smarted for several days. The men's staffs are to protect their legs, not for offense.

    lath mar HoliGopinath temple VrindavanBarsanaHindu festival of colorsHoliIndian widowsVrindavanwidows Holiwidows' Holi

  • Hola Mohalla, Golden Temple, Amritsat

    Hola Mohalla, Golden Temple, Amritsat

    Golden TempleHola MohallaSikhismAmritsar

  • A father (grandfather?) and two sons in front of Sri Harmadir Sahib (The Abode of God), the Golden Temple, the center of the Sikh religion in Amritsar, Punjab state.

    A father (grandfather?) and two sons in front of Sri Harmadir Sahib (The Abode of God), the Golden Temple, the center of the Sikh religion in Amritsar, Punjab state.

    AmritsarGolden TempleHola MohallaSri Hamadir SahibHamadir SahibPunjab

  • Guard at one of the ante buildings. Almost all the organizations reflected in the "contribution inscriptions" on the walls were military units. Sikhs made up a large percentage of the Indian military, particularly under the British Raj before independence in 1947.

    Guard at one of the ante buildings. Almost all the organizations reflected in the "contribution inscriptions" on the walls were military units. Sikhs made up a large percentage of the Indian military, particularly under the British Raj before independence in 1947.

    AmritsarGolden TempleHola MohallaHamadir Sahib

  • Charity is a major tenet of the Sikh religion All of the gurudwaras (Sikh temples) we visited had extensive feeding programs - for any and all. Here a volunteer dish washer.

    Charity is a major tenet of the Sikh religion All of the gurudwaras (Sikh temples) we visited had extensive feeding programs - for any and all. Here a volunteer dish washer.

    AmritsarGolden TempleHola MohallaHamadir Sahib

  • And a volunteer flipping the flat bread being cooked over a wood fire.

    And a volunteer flipping the flat bread being cooked over a wood fire.

    AmritsarGolden TempleHola MohallaHamadir Sahib

  • Fully participating Sikh men do not cut their hair or beards.

    Fully participating Sikh men do not cut their hair or beards.

    AmritsarGolden TempleHola MohallaSikh

  • Not everyone who lives in the city of Amritsar is a fully participating Sikh. Photo taken while walking along a street.

    Not everyone who lives in the city of Amritsar is a fully participating Sikh. Photo taken while walking along a street.

    AmritsarGolden TempleHola Mohallastreet barber

  • Flower vendor, Amritsar - which, in Punjabi means "tank of nectar of immortality"

    Flower vendor, Amritsar - which, in Punjabi means "tank of nectar of immortality"

    AmritsarGolden TempleHola Mohallatank of nectar of immortality

  • The next day we were in Anandpur Sahib, a temple and town where the Hola Mohalla is held, several hours from Amritsar.

    The next day we were in Anandpur Sahib, a temple and town where the Hola Mohalla is held, several hours from Amritsar.

    Hola MohallaAnandpur Sahib

  • Enjoying the sun. Many Sikh families camped for the several days of the festival, some in the covered beds of their large trucks.

    Enjoying the sun. Many Sikh families camped for the several days of the festival, some in the covered beds of their large trucks.

    Hola MohallaAnandpur Sahib

  • In Hindi he would be saying 'Namaste', an "acknowledgment of the soul in one by the soul in another." I am sure the same is true in Punjabi.

    In Hindi he would be saying 'Namaste', an "acknowledgment of the soul in one by the soul in another." I am sure the same is true in Punjabi.

    Hola MohallanamastePunjabi

  • Various portraits during the day of Hola Mohalla ...

    Various portraits during the day of Hola Mohalla ...

  • During the Hola Mohalla festival.

    During the Hola Mohalla festival.

  • During Hola Mohalla.

    During Hola Mohalla.

  • During Hola Mohalla'

    During Hola Mohalla'

  • Part of Hola Mohalla is the display of earler-era military prowess.

    Part of Hola Mohalla is the display of earler-era military prowess.

  • And a younger onlooker.

    And a younger onlooker.

  • Holi effects. I never understood the significance of the extra large turbans worn by some - beyond personal taste. That is many yards of fabric there.

    Holi effects. I never understood the significance of the extra large turbans worn by some - beyond personal taste. That is many yards of fabric there.

  • Even in the harsh midday light, the Holi color splashing shows out.

    Even in the harsh midday light, the Holi color splashing shows out.

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