Wholly Holi

I was invited, by a friend from work (let’s call her SnowWhite) to a festival called ‘Holi’.
SnowWhite didn’t know *why* they “play Holi” exactly but her husband PrinceDilip did.

According to Wikipedia

The festival has many purposes. First and foremost, it celebrates the beginning of the new season, spring. It also has a religious purpose, commemorating many events that are present in Hindu mythology. Although it is the least religious holiday, it is probably one of the most exhilarating ones in existence. During this event, participants hold a bonfire, throw colored powder at each other, and celebrate wildly.

I can personally attest to the description…and this was in Newport fercryinoutloud!
Another attendee told me

This is very mild compared to back home; VERY mild!

Even on this relatively cold and rainy day devotees were dumping water on each other, dragging friends (yes friends) through the mud, slopping their faces with a colored water/mud/substance, flinging chalk at each other, rubbing it deeply into their hair and dancing wildly to traditional music.

I figured, rightly, that the girls would love to see this so I jumped at the invitation.
It’s a good thing we arrived early* (only 50 minutes after the official start of 13:00) because by 14:30 the parking was full and all attendees were walking to the festivities from about one mile away.

Amazingly, with all that perfumed chalk around, we didn’t get any in our eyes (badly) and all of the raucous adults were extremely kind to the children, sharing chalk at every opportunity, and generally enjoying their Holi festival.

Thanks to SnowWhite, PrinceDilip, and SnowWhite’s Chicago-Friend for showing us a good bit of a traditional party.