It was Holi yesterday. Holi is a big festival up North. It is fairly big in Pune as I have seen people out in the street celebrating Holi with infectious enthusiasm. I didn’t go home this Holi. I was to go home on my bike along with my friend, Manoj. But the plan didn’t materialize. One, because Manoj is writing CSE and couldn’t afford to spare 10 days. Two, I didn’t get the leave. So, my little adventure is waiting.
I was so buoyant about this plan that I hardly could contain my excitement. But I do not regret not going. Some truck driver was spared some sin 
.
My sister joined me in Holi. Called home and talked to everyone. When I was talking to my granny, I asked her, how is the celebration back there in my village. She got nostalgic and told that it’s on with full fervour but somehow the fun of my grandpa’s time was missing.
When I was young I used to be home every Holi at least 5 days prior to the festival. Holi is celebrated in Falgun, the 11th month of Bikram Sambat – the Hindu Calendar. In the evening, people of village would gather, form a group with tabla,dhol and what not and would go to some elder’s place. There they would sing something called faguha, a collection of folk song in which every song would end with Jogira sa ra ra ra ra. I didn’t get the lyrics but I used to stand in the corner watching all the people singing and being merry. The host would server them chicken, mutton and ofcourse Tadi. The fun would go on for 4-5 hours and then people would retire to their places. I could literally feel Holi then. This went on for every night till Holi.
Holi witnessed unrestrained energy. They would shower you with anything – mud, cowdung, rotten vegetables and if they could find, color. We would form small groups and would pick up fights with the rival gangs only to make a larger group later and picking up a larger gang to fight with. This used to go on till noon and then we would come home to find Mom and Granny waiting for us and have shower and would be served some real delicacies. In the evening, we would go out and apply gulaal to elder’s feet and seek blessings.
This was ages ago though, a thing of last millennium. My grandpa is no more, nor is Holi the same in my village. When elders pass away, they take a little bit of fun with them, it seems. Some rituals too and something is gone forever with them.
This Holi, I had something nice to eat which my sister prepared and then sat in McDonald’s with Udit. We had chicken McNuggets and cold drink. It was fun to see people playing Holi out there in the streets. Wanted to take pictures but didn’t. Came home, watched a movie on TV – The Empire of the Sun by Spielberg. That’s it.
Next Holi will be great.
