Saturday, March 29, 2008

Holi - Festival of Colors


My friend Kristy and I before the color throwing

So in nearby Spanish Fork there is a Hare Krishna Temple. It looks kind of out of place to have this very middle eastern looking temple in the middle of rural Utah. They have great festivals there for the community and the community is very supportive.

Waiting for the witch to burn (orange face) which is the signal to start throwing colors



In the spring they celebrate Holi - the festival of colors. Its a celebration of the arrival of spring and other things but its fun and really interesting. Thousands of people, mostly BYU students gathered outside the Hare Krishna Temple, purchased little packets of color and then waited for the moment when the witch is lit on fire (part of a legend) and then the color throwing begins.

Kristy and Erica during the color throwing....and me during the color throwing YUM!


It was unlike any experience I've ever had. The colors were suffocating as they filled the air but we all got covered in vibrant colors.


We took pictures with friends and then went on their way. It was cool to see such acceptance of another culture. I don't know that I'll go again but it was cool to experience it once.



9 comments:

Janel said...

That is awesome!! It looks like it was tons of fun!

Andrea said...

i am so sad i didn't go it looks like tons of fun. crazy with all the people... but fun. the picture where you are smiling and it is all over your teeth - makes me want to brush m teeth..over and over and over again.

Rinez said...

Doesn't look fun to me! No Thanks! Glad you enjoyed, though, Mr. Adventure Man! Love you!

liv said...

man, looks like such a fabulous experience! all right, now our blogs are linked...

Lemme said...

I was there too!!! SUCH A BLAST!! p.s. I'm a little offended you didn't stop and chat with me after observing joy...but I still love you!

Camille said...

K, just one question--does it all wash out? I guess you can tell I'm a mother of 4 boys and LOTS of laundry. lol I'm thinkin that it kind of looks like fun.

Lisa R.D. said...

I'm a little embarrassed that I've lived in Utah for so many years and didn't know that place existed, much less that they held such fun activities there. Thanks for the enlightenment, it looks like you had a great time. I'm with Camille though, and really wonder if it will wash out?

Stephanie said...

I remember that place! Jake and I took a little "field trip" there once just to see what it was. That looks like fun. What madness! You look like some sort of funky leper! LOL

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