2 posts from March 2009

On March 10th and 11th I celebrated Holi with my host family!    Holi is known as the festival of colors, but there is much more to it than just colors.

On March 10th, bonfires are lit known as Holika Dahan (death of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi).  This ceremony is held at night and during the day people fast (they only eat the fasting foods until they go to the fire, the fasting foods contain things made from corn).  The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad had when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. When people go to the fire they first light a small puja of their own and then later they will walk around the fire and throw a coconut into the fire. 

Then the next day known as Dhulheti and is celebrated by people throwing colored powder and colored water at each other.  This is the main day which for me was also lots of fun!  First, I played with the kids in my neighborhood and then later went with one of my host sisters to her friends place, where they dragged me into a mud pile and put lots and lots of paint on me!  :)   Although it takes a while to get all the color removed, it is a lot of fun!!

Here in Baroda I am studying in 12th Standard.  Just like in the U.S. here in Gujarat after 12th the students all go to college!  So there were lots of celebrations for the end of school.

For example, on the Last Day of School everyone signed each others uniforms and took pictures!

Then there was the Valedictory function which is the equivalent of a U.S. graduation ceremony.  All the students in 12th at my school wore the school sash and participated in the ceremony.

The Principal gives a speech, and then the class teacher of each class also gives a speech.  For example, there are 3 classes at Tejas.  Science section, divided into the Biology Class and the Math class, and then the commerce section.  So three teachers gave the speech.  It was very nice because all the students could tell how much time the teachers took on the speeches to make sure that they were personal!

We also light candles as we sung the school song, and we were all called up one by one to receive our mementos!!

I enjoyed being able to participate in this ceremony for so many reasons!!