Holi Fest

This weekend was the Holi Fest, or Festival of Colors, at the Spanish Fork Hare Krishna Temple.

Holi, or Holli, also called the Festival of Colors, is a spring festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and others.

The main day, Holi, is celebrated by people throwing colored powder and colored water at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before, also known as Holika Dahan (burning of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi). The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad accomplished when Demoness Holika, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of god Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion (he was chanting Vishnus [Krishna] name).

Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (February/March), (Phalgun Purnima), which usually falls in the later part of February or March. (thank you Wikipedia)

Matt and I wore my India pants because we knew our clothes would be thrashed and I was ok with these being dyed. I don't really like that we're twins though... I'm not into the matching couples thing.

Lauren went to the morning session with her brothers, but the four of us went to the later one. I almost regret it because it was SO crowded.

We found Becky, and I look dreadful in this photo because I'm trying to hold the camera back far enough to get all of us... triple chins...

You're kind of supposed to wait for the color throwing all at once, but no one could contain the crowd or their anticipation to get people colored. Matt got me in the eye. The color is actually dyed corn starch. So it really sticks to everything.

Matt got Nicole and Paige in the face as well.

Throwing color

Sprinkling color... >:|

This was my position during the actual throwing as well. I got a great video of everything. I'll try to post it.

The temple through the colored dust.

After the coloring

The color-throbbing crowd. It was so packed. I bet this is what Holi is like in India.

The color got everywhere... And Matt looks like Aladdin.