Holi is a festival which blurs the division between old and young, rich and poor.It’s an equalizer because we all look the same with those colors on our face.While it’s important to be safe at all festivals the spirit of it should be celebrated.
My childhood memory of Holi was of getting wet, getting dry under the sun, gulping down sweets, savories and various drinks that the neighborhood aunties served while the children played, shouted and sprayed water.
I don’t remember being scared as we knew everyone and my mom taught well.Strangers, relatives, good touch and bad touch.Once you teach a child something they do remember.
This natural sense of self-preservation had stopped me from playing Holi when I joined Safdarjung Hospital as an MS student.First-year PG trainees have duties on every holiday Diwali, Holi everything in between.I had no intention of playing Holi with people I knew slightly.It was a co-ed hostel and though I had several friends, I really didn’t feel comfortable about getting dunked while on duty.
With such serious thoughts in my mind and carefully apologetic words, I told my friends to excuse me from playing as I was on serious hospital duty.
They looked convinced that this was indeed a serious matter and I felt happy that no weird stranger will be putting unknown colors on my face.Because we all know that does happen and its a pain getting off.The pretty Holi colors in movies, translate into blacks and purple colored faces post Holi in real life.
But guess what happened?
A senior in a different department had a plan for all those who were on duty.
When I returned to the hostel at lunchtime, an entire bucket of pink colored water was emptied over me.
Greeting of Holi, best wishes, loads of love all mixed together.
Since I was coming back and would obviously be taking a bath this was not a problem right?
That’s what my friends said chuckling.Now once you get dunked, the only thing you can do to feel better is dunk water over a few more people.
One of the most carefree and fun Holi’s I remember as an adult.I also remember the delicious homemade Gujiya’s my friends treated me with.
But the canteen was closed and Holi is a typical day for everything to be shut.
So food at night was going to be a problem I didn’t know Delhi restaurants especially the small ones shut down on Holi.My friend Ritu who was training to be an Anaesthesist and a wonderful cook helped me.She invited me to dinner and fed me the most delicious kadi -chawal I have ever tasted.
I have rarely tasted a better kadi anywhere else.
It takes a lot of skill to make the everyday meals delicious.
It’s even more delicious when it has kindness in it.On this Holi, I remember my friends in Delhi fondly.
Hope you all have a happy Holi dear friends.
Writing this for #MondayMommyMoments
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