Playing Phagwah
so there Chris and I are at the Orchid Festival at the botanical gardens on Sunday, and we see our friends Richard and Leila. Leila invites us to a big Phagwah celebration (she is ethnically Indian, from Guyana). Chris and I had plans in the afternoon in the keys but decide to meet up with Richard and Leila instead. oh yeah, and she told us to wear "old clothes". =)
Phagwah is a spring Hindu festival, and it's mostly known for people being covered with bright colors of powder and colored water. when we first got there, Leila was sitting on the ground surrounded by about 2 dozen people, just singing and playing music. while watching her, we spoke with a few people there, who were so very welcoming and inviting. when Leila was done singing, she came over and greeted us, complete with a "Happy Phagwah!", a dousing of baby powder, and a hug.
throughout the day, we were sprinkled with many different colors of powder (called gulal) - i think i was 3 different colors as the day went on! the huge field was just covered with a lot of people who had water guns and bckets of colored water they were splashing on everyone.
i took a ton of pictures, but eventually thought it best to put the camera in the car - safe and sound and DRY. it was good timing, because when i got back from the car, i noticed Chris had changed color (again) and was covered in shaving cream. and no sooner than i sat down did someone come from behind me and smear dark blue "paint" all over my face (it got in my mouth, ick). i was upset over that one (he was rough!) but i know it was all in good fun. even though i came home and my hair was stained blue. and still is, haha.
there was a lot of dancing, and more singing. and Leila had cooked, and it was yummy! she sent us home with a big container of chicken curry and rice.
this was totally not what we thought what we were doing when we woke up this morning! but sometimes those are the best days!
we are SO going back to do it again next year!
Phagwah is a spring Hindu festival, and it's mostly known for people being covered with bright colors of powder and colored water. when we first got there, Leila was sitting on the ground surrounded by about 2 dozen people, just singing and playing music. while watching her, we spoke with a few people there, who were so very welcoming and inviting. when Leila was done singing, she came over and greeted us, complete with a "Happy Phagwah!", a dousing of baby powder, and a hug.
throughout the day, we were sprinkled with many different colors of powder (called gulal) - i think i was 3 different colors as the day went on! the huge field was just covered with a lot of people who had water guns and bckets of colored water they were splashing on everyone.
i took a ton of pictures, but eventually thought it best to put the camera in the car - safe and sound and DRY. it was good timing, because when i got back from the car, i noticed Chris had changed color (again) and was covered in shaving cream. and no sooner than i sat down did someone come from behind me and smear dark blue "paint" all over my face (it got in my mouth, ick). i was upset over that one (he was rough!) but i know it was all in good fun. even though i came home and my hair was stained blue. and still is, haha.
there was a lot of dancing, and more singing. and Leila had cooked, and it was yummy! she sent us home with a big container of chicken curry and rice.
this was totally not what we thought what we were doing when we woke up this morning! but sometimes those are the best days!
we are SO going back to do it again next year!