I love my hyphy village.

Happy Holi!

3/17/14

Or to all back at home, Happy St. Patrick's Day. Holi isn't the Nepali equivalent of St. Patrick's Day, but the two holidays happened to land on the same calendar day this year. From what I've heard, Holi is a Hindu holiday celebrated after the gods Vishnu and Radha. Vishnu, a blue skinned god, threw colors at Radha so that they would be of the same color and they fell in love. Thus, Holi is celebrated by destroying other people with tikaa powder of all different colors. There is also a mixture of water balloons, water squirters, eggs, alcohol and beer, and a good ol' angry fight when someone gets too much tikaa to the dome to give the holiday its full atmosphere.

I was quietly working on my nursery bed (I'm working on my green thumb) in the back of my house when I was hazed by a mob of villagers in my gaou (village). I wasn't too eager on participating in the Holi celebrations at first because I wanted to get my nursery bed up and growing. However, after over 100 villagers smacked me around with colorful tikaa powder and cracked 2 eggs on my head, they got me to stop what I was doing and join the festivities. We walked down to the local mandeer (temple) and they yelled, “AMERICAN DANCE!”

I taught them a few good moves, some of the classics like the sprinkler, the disco, the hands and knees move (I don't remember what its called), and some interpretive & improv moves. I'd say the people dug it, but you all will never know since no other American was around to witness.

And now I have tikaa stains all over my face and body because I didn't bathe quick enough. I have a nice solid red mustache too (I hope it never goes away).

With love and tikaa,

Bora