Let us splash vibrant frenzy colors on the eve of Holi…
![Holi festival at Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh Holi festival at Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlvqsu2So1xQebd-MpGc5cCVe1__-srWwAp9tTVTlTTo8MQ_RHzL1dorzDjHQpNoXnxPbrddqKfSevWdkSbq9HZOSBAHgiYNw_4kOMWgoQqTlahF9vlQ64koFaw9NkamCIk0jEC81p4g/s1600/Holi+festival+at+Parmarth+Niketan+Ashram%252C+Rishikesh.jpg)
... Gulal ...
red, blue, purple, yellow or green
![Celebrating Holi beyond boundaries Celebrating Holi beyond boundaries](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBlJ0eDtbcSiBuRJfnA4adWaNUgDcZTDv6uMhznTQYy6obOkpqRsmV-bvKO6VTLLWgBa259_jrAoTfgz4Y6ZIiPAUl79XK7T0rODq05Jrs9d9h7uo9yhc73b-ExSlF7uK86UOHQOHCqU/s1600/Celebrating+Holi+beyond+boundaries.jpg)
A riot of colors ... let them free, let them fly
![A happy lady dancing on the festival of Holi A happy lady dancing on the festival of Holi](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvN80CyXH6lNhOUyzUAI5TJE5sTD05bmGXTK404I3TnzK_O_uokkJI91dxlN6JPMdSobVX6kTx7Jfn4-DIQq6OKdtrE_RdNnpUI6dtb6vwzaUCj2zx2eVyZBMjMACW-AASpSvzMC1ZUfs/s1600/A+happy+lady+dancing+on+the+festival+of+Holi.jpg)
A day's melee or a life's canvas
let me paint an everlasting imagination
shades as beautiful as a dream
![Celebrating Holi at Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh Celebrating Holi at Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJx1Fq2qbk5DmxXQClvuzjNpTCVaaTB7uBnb6ql0MrDGnWLm3HwDUJxdbzwswTVzaibqbJtazQLi0aMiIS4oBce_sEJQsiDNyUnx4PsHzXmqmrOxhf-xxWPEFczxFOcca8ONhsrJSvmU/s1600/Celebrating+Holi+at+Parmarth+Niketan+Ashram%252C+Rishikesh.jpg)
Like petals of a spirited flower
these are colors of a different kind
they touch us, they soothe and they bind
![Celebrating Holi beyond boundaries at Parmarth Niketan Ashram Rishikesh Celebrating Holi beyond boundaries at Parmarth Niketan Ashram Rishikesh](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjKxyqmjRLf-CokieLf0vwtLfjG2r9BKe5iNao81v-qaA9-ujwncOFRc06q9jjKs3yx76Wf-34ggjS-UvsV1nyTBtXL4juoCu-1cK13vgXQzMRns3SrsXs_bL7c3S68QSXhOYkNTTC1I/s1600/Celebrating+Holi+beyond+boundaries+at+Parmarth+Niketan+Ashram+Rishikesh.jpg)
All trees - old or young, big or small
Smile in their tender sprouts
and laugh in their blooms…
![A color soaked woman poses on the festival of Holi A color soaked woman poses on the festival of Holi](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVErQiTzHt61o8Day7fMcUvTerdqB9CLr_PWraLnLmfEXvBuJOTVOzPeJg2KYfF35YtY1v6At30qF4JHoxglgnOiU68UXOqcZIhUO5yxZB4N7_JT2ADEfBCL8wfqJDusqkJ-cevwVPfTM/s1600/A+color+soaked+woman+poses+on+the+festival+of+Holi.jpg)
What is the color of smiles and laughter?
Multitudes of the Universe in its chime
![Celebrating Holi with foreigners at Rishikesh Celebrating Holi with foreigners at Rishikesh](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5csWVBygNvzTESQnj5azf2ZOUG4mMWkQb2nB_xdx9EPnMNKcaUBQtgS3Y_yoR5Q7Rfj9HZIvHCj9078UwKXa53nicj_ukOplxOFYI2detoKxFekhvU1I_9rzH4yCErhMe_D51a4MFhE/s1600/Celebrating+Holi+with+foreigners+at+Rishikesh.jpg)
What is the color of innocence?
![Celebrating Holi beyond colors Celebrating Holi beyond colors](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC48A4j3l9y5MuHjFoXJg12Zn1qeO-L6R0OZrVApnt6mkEQjEhWPVGyZtRMva_AyOlQkykJdSuYaOPzxuIagSatIu9U4t72Jt-aX0p5ZZD3AmvQkDW0_BbQNAlE2iyBXddoNdPolh40Ws/s1600/Celebrating+Holi+beyond+colors.jpg)
A gaze that cleanses the mind
purifies the heart of all evil
and fills it with love and adoration
![A child drenched in the colors of Holi A child drenched in the colors of Holi](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYEimSzxxgIUDa9QNBpA4t5Xh1I-NYH17UjwK2ib17KmCYEzlXFaRyi_pzK6uFGVEIze8hyphenhyphenxYPkALj_nQLj4xtA0fkC9ZX53MHs_GUV4zVIKDqW_xHXdP1lNleA0xrc9oO2p2eCfnq5s/s1600/A+child+drenched+in+the+colors+of+Holi.jpg)
... Love ...
as childlike, playful and pure as Radha and Krishna
![Selfie in the colors of Holi Selfie in the colors of Holi](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8oXMf2wxbwgNUNz09LB_MGdp40O1M4r2fR7JovPZcQ8-OJvRNpi2UEnxaYbvcQpy6QsNaUCXvFlQYc-TBUbhRf-lM7ySFxr3BKMKQ2hZ6PJiLBOeIVuftT7-txreHiQi0XyJEVoU-dg/s1600/Selfie+in+the+colors+of+Holi.jpg)
Shaded in a feeling rich and wholesome,
A flight as gentle as a dove
Survival of faith when challenged by evil
And satisfaction dyed in the sweat of giving your best
![A group of friends on the festival of Holi A group of friends on the festival of Holi](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cZ691-JOnT9AuAPH6_S2nXFWCu6g125chs14-AJH495xPGIDFXOaoaQiF5p8WHOq-6kbabONctvUaZvSUaspOzixeHhwyg-ShO6Qq83Ge3Urw6eYCZaKZialQeGcVn7q_krPICoJhZ4/s1600/A+group+of+friends+on+the+festival+of+Holi.jpg)
Year after year,
A myriad of strings rages within my spirit
Each thread drenched in the hue of Existence
![Celebrating Holi Holika Dahan Rishikesh Celebrating Holi Holika Dahan Rishikesh](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXB7Ln5CvH4JUoVHLLjwShxHABt1QhxcMtjWiwFgzkgtE_11JUNKOf6dHhEjh_3vfICW9YJw8ufsY1RfHKM8AWuu-uXTallBqniWLHirqsgZLCrK0ZChlgkKLMPOpARwkKSX8CWcO-hs8/s1600/Celebrating+Holi+Holika+Dahan+Rishikesh.jpg)
What is the color of Existence?
Smiles, tears, joy and sadness
flowing from the Heart of Life itself
A heady concoction of moments
happy, sad, bitter and sweet
igniting embers of hope, faith, kindness and forgiveness in the yearning fire of spirit
The yearning fire
dancing in the vast expanse of Love and Beauty – of My Father.
What color is My Father?
![Lord Shiva Rishikesh Lord Shiva Rishikesh](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqC28-ctrbNUMvOAxUq8YMpZfdwhMIMilEUQxjc9dmb3CtL2ixuGwXZyCujVnWt3XmZ6kqCeY-wKoQF3HjEmS1oqbkSkEJ8cCdUfWp8PWVTLpuxkMobKxTjTaSdg0kdc0fHwQH2cvv6c/s1600/Lord+Shiva+Rishikesh.jpg)
... And yours ...
And what color is His blessing?
![Lord Shiva drenched in colors, Holi Lord Shiva drenched in colors, Holi](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Qtfh7bNvsqOTR2POEu56GEjCv7d00D7omHLkCzcBak72m5HutC4ClUykWhWK4LqCrGkICpZplvIA_kuaxdHEjpP-8JAmtUtfPFatsY58QBR-n94JOY8b3CJ5DvdOoEYIrrDrVtw1TQk/s1600/Lord+Shiva+drenched+in+colors%252C+Holi.jpg)
Blessings that fill our canvas of Life
in hues and shades of all humane colors and more.
![Celebrating Holi Rishikesh Celebrating Holi Rishikesh](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV96XJWGMRrKomRloB3ZllLu56wWJyWdZe7ulUrupt1eDy2OUpEXIcJGJuvBvn04FXo60r3zBs3rN_dXVzmTJSzWo44y_ysIcLpDkiW2kABIzOS4yAZloPFz6lfN3ZXPAjZc7wKzu0LjU/s1600/Celebrating+Holi+Rishikesh.jpg)
I wonder if I or anyone can really ever know.
HAPPY HOLI !
All pictures from the International Yoga Festival held at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, 2015 - the only time that I can remember having participated in Dhuleti or the color day of the Holi festival!
20 Comments
Beautiful colors and smiles that are universal in appeal and brings with them the true joy and happiness of playing Holi in true spirit. Happy Holi :)
ReplyDeleteWishing you a very colorful Holi too....
ReplyDeletewow, wonderful collection of pictures. You have captured the very essence of this festival.
ReplyDeleteWow! So many shades of emotions and expressions of joy and love... excellent editing and focus on the colors of life. Love the post Arti
ReplyDeleteVery nice captures and the captions also.
ReplyDeleteFantastic captures and your thoughtful captions, Arti. I love the contrast of black and white and a spot of colour in each picture. For me, you captured the true spirit of Holi. Loved this post.
ReplyDeleteLovely memories of Holi at Rishikesh,Arti.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful pics. Loved the post.
ReplyDeleteGreetings. ~da
Very beautiful pictures of colorful Holi with great captions . This time it was cold enough so we could not play Holi with water mixed colors as I like much.
ReplyDeleteDamn useful post, Arti !
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures, Arti! Every caption has a wonderful meaning and one can relate each word of the caption with the pictures. :)
ReplyDeleteHoli brings colours to our lives, which make us forget our past quarells and make us love each other again. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful..
ReplyDeleteI love these pictures capturing holi. So wonderful to see and the vibrant colours bring joy to everyone's faces xx
ReplyDeleteMore than colors, you can see genuine happiness in their faces. It's my dream to take part in in holi. Perhaps one day I will be flying to India and enjoying it in person. :)
ReplyDeleteColourful, full of love, creative, and inspiring!
ReplyDeleteOne can never be said while playing Holi !
ReplyDeleteIt is a rainbow of happiness !
You really beautifully captured, what is clearly a wonderful amazing celebration of life, and happiness. It must have been an inspiring time. Thank you for sharing your experience with us
ReplyDeleteIt's so amazing to see so many foreigners embracing our Indian festivals. Holi is the most delighting festival that everyone enjoys right from children to adults :)
ReplyDeleteI too am expecting as colorful a future as depicted here because I retired in March and I am going to experience life to its fullest.
ReplyDeleteDelighted you stopped by... Your suggestions, feedback are really appreciated. Thanks a lot :) Hope you visit again!
If you have asked a question, please give me at least 2 days to reply back. Thank you :)