Holi Elephants

We just spent a week in Rajasthan.  This was the week of Pesach and Easter in the place we come from, but in India it is the week of Holi, the festival of colours, celebrated on the day prior to the full moon following the spring equinox.

Kali and Beverly in Conversation

Our first day was spent getting up close and personal with elephants.  We spent an afternoon at an elephant village getting to know an elephant called Kali, whom we fed, conversed with, washed and rode bareback.  It was a special and calming experience to interact so closely with this magnificent creature.  It was lovely to spend time with the elephants and their Mahouts (handlers); who form a lifelong bond with each other. 

We were not too disappointed to find out the following day that the Annual Elephant Festival, which had been the original reason for the timing of our visit to Jaipur, was re-branded as the Annual Holi Festival and there would be no elephants involved.   PETA had managed to stop the parade, which in the past included elephant polo, elephant tug of war and painted elephant beauty contests.  So things can change in India.

Not our photo 

Which brings us to the actual celebration of Holi.  What better way to brighten up a spring day than throwing paint around and getting drunk?  Well, the locals and tourists of a braver disposition had great time.  We were warned that it can get dangerous out on the streets, so we observed from a safe distance and enjoyed the festivities second hand.  We did not get anywhere near close enough to take pictures.  In fact we only heard what was going on, which was LOUD and we certainly saw the aftermath on the people who participated.  

Namaste

Jeff and Beverly in Rajasthan