Lessons Learned During Holi, the spring Festival of Colors, celebrated by a conspicuous bunch of Fulbrighters in South India.
- Descending on an all-Indian Holi celebration in Kochi, Kerala, as a group of 10 Fulbrighters is just asking for an all-out Holi war. (The little kids from Kochi won.)
- If you are a Westerner, you are a target.
- Keep your eyes squinted. Sunglasses will not protect you. Luckily, colorful powder does not cause blindness…usually.
- Girls are gentle. Boys are not.
- If kids see you holding packets of powder, they will come and beg you to give them the bags. It’s a bit like handing out Halloween candy, if trick-or-treaters’ modus operandi was to engage in a violent tug of war for said Halloween candy and then turn the candy against you by pelting it in your face.
- When kids run out of powder, they will substitute rocks.
- If you are worried you have broken out in a post-Holi rash, don’t worry. Your skin has just been dyed by the pink powder. It will go away in 72 hours.
- Brian loves Holi.
- Rickshaw drivers will not pick you up if you are a dripping rainbow monster. (See Number 10.)
- Random guys with flatbed trucks are very kind and will give you a lift back to your hotel if Brian asks nicely.
- The owner of your hotel may request that you hose off outside before walking through his lobby in a spray of excess powder. One of the staffers will bring you soap for your public shower.
- You and your Fulbright entourage will be a source of great amusement to the locals.
"Getcha Holi powder!" Wallah selling packets of Holi colors.
Brian and the Amazing Technicolor Beard.
It's safer up on Dad's shoulders.
The results for Erica and me.
They may look cute, but don't be fooled.
Hitchin' a ride back to the hotel with Bryant.
Kids positively squealed with delight when they sprayed us with powder...and then they took off running for cover.
Wet t-shirt contest.
In yo' face!
*Thank you to Sony Jose for the use of his photos (those with black borders) from Kerala.