McLeod Ganj is predominantly Tibetan, thus they don't generally celebrate Holi. So we headed into Dharamshala to celebrate Holi which is a big city, 10kms down the hill. It's famous for it's massively beautiful cricket stadium, amongst lovely snowy mountains. Dressed in white, carrying water pistols and a large amount of bags with different coloured powders we set off on our way. As Wikipedia states Holi - Festival of colours is a festival celebrated by Hindus mainly in India and Nepal. The date changes every year however it is always sometime in March this year it was March 27th. Its a festival that celebrates the beginning of the new season, Spring. Originally it was a festival that commemorated good harvests and the fertile land. Hindus believe it is a time of enjoying Springs abundant colours and saying farewell to Winter. However wikipedia facts aside, from what i observed it is merely an excuse to get high and throw coloured powder at randoms. It is the only day the police turn a blind eye to Bhang lassies (weed milkshake for you untraveled folk), fried weed and street drinking. Thus the streets are overflowing with seedy drunk men screaming Happy Holi (insert Indian accent) and who may try and cop a feel as they throw copious amounts of coloured dust onto you. All in good fun they say, which of course it is but be careful into the afternoon as it gets more and more chaotic.
We bumped into a nice bunch of westerners. Two swedes, Three poms, and a coincidentally a guy from East Fremantle in Perth. They were an awesome bunch that all met in India through their film and media expertise. John one of the English guys was very interesting to talk to. He had been living in India and Nepal for the last two years filming and being a chef. He was the classic dread bearing, free spirit who hugged anyone and everyone. He didn't own any shoes and hadn't worn a pair for four months. Previously studied biology back in the UK but gave it up to move to India, which sounds very good to me right now, who will find it very difficult to leave this amazing place. This group are currently filming a movie about a young Tibetan orphan which will premier on the 6th of July in Delhi which we were lucky enough to be a part of. We also had a few go pros on board during Holi so look forward to a few crazy clips.
Into the afternoon our competitive sides came out as we filled water balloons full of coloured water, water pistols and just filled up buckets to pour onto people. We became more and more ruthless with silly tourists that expected to come outside on Holi and be unscathed by coloured powder, foolish. We followed one Russian couple for about 10 minutes until they finally gave in and let us throw coloured powder onto them, which we would have done anyway. Russians, you can't come out and take a photo of everyone else covered in powder but refuse to get powder on you, please.
The powder throwing stopped around 3pm so we began our hike back to McLeod Ganj, exceptionally unrecognisable. Coloured powder everywhere, including places where you'd rather it wasn't… like my mouth. A good two hour bucket bath later, scrubbing and scrubbing i could finally see my own face. After farewelling my converse and white clothing defeated by Holi we set off to our usual hang-out at Carpe Diem for beers and a night time jam. Our new media friends were filming a party scene for their film at Mount View (nightclub/bar) so we went along for bit of a boogie.
Holi festival was definitely one of the funnest experiences of my life. I mean really throwing abundant amounts colourful powder at randoms how could that not be fun. I did get egged however that wasn't fun. Stay away from moving vehicles people will have more courage to throw things at you knowing you can't chase after them…The Himachali people are generally a lot more tame and friendly though. Go into one of the big cities like Delhi or Varanasi for Holi and you won't get out alive, especially girls!
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