| Bursting onto the calendar to herald the arrival of | | | | Linked to the lunar cycle and the changing of the |
| spring, Holi, the "Festival of Colors," is celebrated with | | | | seasons, the festival has long been presided over by |
| infectious joy and frivolity. During this exuberant festival, | | | | mischievous Lord Krishna, whose roots in Uttar |
| the country erupts into a rainbow of color and noise as | | | | Pradesh give the festivities an increased fervor in the |
| everyone takes to the streets with handfuls of gulal | | | | village of Barsana. The festival here follow a distinct |
| (colored powder) and reckless abandon. | | | | tradition, in which the women of the village take control, |
| Nothing encompasses the spirit of Holi better than the | | | | armed with long bamboo sticks, forcing the men to |
| colors that are thrown about with such pleasure, | | | | dress up in saris and dance for the rest of the village. |
| symbolizing the change from drab winter into bright | | | | This takes place as the village is consumed by the |
| spring. In the days before the festival, vendors sit on | | | | eruption of colors and festival songs celebrating |
| street corners with pyramids of gulal. This is either | | | | Krishna's beloved Radha ring out. |
| used dry and smeared onto people, or mixed with | | | | Clouds of flame red, turmeric orange, and electric |
| water and splattered from water pistols and balloons. | | | | yellow powder cover the streets in a technicolor smog; |
| Every conceivable shade of pink and orange appears, | | | | this is a quintessentially Indian festival, which abounds |
| blending into each other to create a riot of color that | | | | with sensuality and joy. As the festivities draw to a |
| could only ever exist in India. On the night before Holi, | | | | close, men, women, and children return home, drenched |
| large hola (bonfires) are lit and an effigy of the demon | | | | in a rainbow of colors and rejoicing in life. |
| Hohka is burnt, signifying the triumph of good over evil | | | | Although celebrated throughout the country, Holi is |
| The mood is jubilant, but it is as dawn breaks the next | | | | particularly important in North India, where the seasons |
| day that the festival erupts. People of all ages swarm | | | | are more pronounced. During the festival, the streets fill |
| onto the streets, splashing and smearing brightly | | | | with people sprinkling colored water and powder (gulal) |
| coloured gulal on each other, and decorated elephants | | | | on one another. Combine your trip with a visit to the |
| push through the crowd to the constant beat of | | | | Taj Mahal in Agra. |
| dholaks (drums). | | | | |