Color is something we don’t think to be thankful for very often, but in the last few years color runs and paint raves have become a hit in the States. However on the other side of the world India has had us beat on that trend by a few centuries… with their annual celebration of Holi Festival.
As we woke up our first morning in Chitradurga, a small village a couple hours outside of Bangalore, the men in the house across the street were out early hanging what looked like a flower pot above the road and pouring water into buckets. Soon they blasting a mix of cultural Indian music mixed with more modern dance beats. Hearing the speakers, more college-aged men began gathering and dancing in the streets. As we watched from our balcony next door, they invited us to join.
Next thing I knew were were in the street and part of a frenzy that included attacking each other with paint powder, slinging buckets of colored water, dancing, and even taking an occasional egg to the dome (all part of the fun). This cycle went on for over an hour.
Then a few of the guys came over and handed me a stone. After a few minutes of confused communication I realized that they wanted me to break the pot that was hanging above the street. Then 6 of the men formed a football style huddle and I jumped on top of their shoulders. After struggling to maintain my balance a top the human pyramid I grabbed onto the line with one hand and made a swing at the pot with another. With one blow the pot busted, green water paint dumped out on the crowd below, and everyone began cheering.
After a little more dancing, a quick march up the street, and a few pictures with our new friends the day’s festivities were over. What remained was an assortment of colors that covered our bodies. From our faces that took three days to wash, our shirts that are now permenant a different color from what they were that morning, to the paint that is still in my toenails… the after math was apparent.
That wasn’t the only thing we walked away with though. The morning was one of my favorite experiences of the Race so far, full of great memories and new friendships. A time of setting aside difference in race and culture, and just celebrating life.
As we have traveled the world we have seen many cultures, lifestyles, and circumstances. However sometimes it feels like instead of broadening my view of the World, it has narrows it. Though our external setting and circumstances may differ at the end of the day we all seek the same things internally. Love, relationship, and celebration. That’s where true happiness comes from… around the world.
