Holi is one festival that evokes mixed feelings of fun, frolic and also fear in some. So when the RWA announced the celebration of Holi in RP2 we had mixed feelings at our home as well. My older daughter Gayatri was ready to come for the Holika Dahan due to her new-found faith in God who she wants to believe in and thus persuade her to support her in clearing the MBBS exams year after year. The younger one is more open to all and plenty as it allows her to meet her friends and have fun.
As a precursor to Holi, a mela was organized by the Regency Park 2 RWA. There were many stalls of clothing, jewellery, home furnishing and gift items set up for the enthusiastic shopper. The children enjoyed the swings and games. A DJ floor was also set up. Many food stalls were offering a variety of lip-smacking dishes.
Holika Dahan was celebrated with enthusiasm by all Regency Park 2 residents. Some of the residents did their customary puja before the pyre was lit and offered prayers. Some of them also applied a little gulal on each other in anticipation of Dhulendi the next morning.
Early the next morning I could see a lot of activity in the kota ground where a rain shower and DJ were set up. Initially, only a few kids were seen playing with their pichkaris. Very soon the pace picked up and residents started trickling in. Within an hour’s time, the whole ground was filled with people enjoying themselves. There was not one person which did not have multiple shades of colours on their face, hair and clothes. My particularly snow-white hair was a pinch point for my friends and they made every effort to give me a fresh new look. Thanks to RWA for arranging refreshing thandai and gujia for all of us. There were separate stalls of food arranged as well from where residents could get food on a payment basis. The rain shower was a big hit amongst all as the summer had set in during that week.
Of course in all this I could see my daughter and husband standing in the window of our home 21 floors above watching all the splash of colour, water and fun. After the celebration as I walked into my home soaking wet, there were loud screams from my daughter and incessant barking by my dog as I looked quite unrecognizable. However, I enjoyed the whole morning and continue to enjoy the pink hues in my hair.
by Manisha Dua (Regency Park 2, 9810544892)
