Holi (pronounced “holy”) is a Hindu religious festival known as the “Festival of Colours”. It is held on the last full moon of the winter season. This day is considered to be the happiest and most colourful day of the year promoting the brotherhood among people and after experiencing it I can say that it does just that!
Last year I was in Panchgani around this time and somehow missed it and although Goa is not the epicentre of Holi activities, it still does happen here (but I am jealous of my friends Brett and Belle being in Mumbai!).
The principle of the festival is quite simple. Buy some brightly coloured powder from a store and walk around throwing it at anyone you like or smear it on their face, arms...wherever. For some reason, this activity just can’t help but make everyone cheerful as everyone exchanges a “Happy Holi!” greeting.
Martin and I had gone for lunch separately and although I saw a lot of the carnage with colours spattered along the path and colourfully smeared Indians and tourist alike I somehow I avoided the gauntlet on my 5 minute walk around the cliff side to a restaurant whereas Martin sat at Deepo’s restaurant with some lovely pink smudged on his face. I joined Martin and almost felt like a bit of a stick in the mud as most people passing by on the path where coloured up. Eventually a couple of Russian women who were making the rounds with their bags of bright colour finding victims to decorate, zeroed in on us and we gladly welcomed the addition of some colour to our mugs. I was finally initiated to Holi.
Martin and I decided to get into the action and after a brief return home we decided to play some pool at the Rice Bowl followed by some beach restaurant hopping. On the way to the Rice Bowl we fell victim to a few of the vendors along the path (we walk by them every day so know a number of them) who cheerfully added some new hues to our existing pink. Anand, a young teenage boy whom we’ve befriended, was more than happy to colour us up and we again were glad to oblige.
With Anand, a 13 year old shop vendor we've befriended over the past view months:
As we were playing pool and having a few beers, two multi-coloured Turks, a couple we think, and an English woman joined us. They were fully embracing Holi too. We played a few games with them before moving to a beach restaurant called Opinhall which sports a nice bar with tall stools with massive round seats. There we met an Australian man named Hamish who was in the same mode as us with his face completely covered as he instructed the bartender on how to make him a fancy dry martini. We chatted him for a while and then continued our bar hopping and then hiked up the ridge to catch a lovely sunset.
Shooting some pool at the Rice Bowl:
Martin concentrating:
Some new Holi friends, this guy is from Turkey:
And she's from England:
And another Turk who played pool with us:
In Opinhall for a drink meeting an Aussie guy named Hamish:
Not a bad look:
Checking out sunset:
We ate at one of my favourite restaurants on the beach, Om Star, where the pizzas are fantastic and the waiter Johnny is the best server in Arambol. This Nepalese fellow is always happy, friendly and actually hustles at providing great service (not exactly the norm here!). We finished the evening at the Olive Garden with some Jenga and a few more beers. What a day!
Back at Opinhall en route to dinner:
At the Olive Garden to finish the night with Ram and Pinku:
Martin mentioned that the Swedish government is considering including some holidays from other religions than just Christian ones into their calendar and he thought Holi should definitely be one of them...I couldn’t agree more, I wish we had this back in Canada!
Happy Holi!
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