From the archives of Global Fiestas – several 1978 photographs of Holi; the national celebration from India, marking the end of winter this month. In Jaipur's palace garden , in the northern province of Rajasthan the bright colored powders are brought on trays. Large antique metal syringes are filled with colored water. The guests wearing old clothes, first greet each other with their hands joined saying: “Namaste” roughly translated as “I salute the divine in you”, and then proceed to throw the brilliant colors with joyous abandon.
A while later, as all over India, with the aid of customary herbal drinks, music and dancing the sight of multicolored bodies evokes psychedelic vibrancy . During the days of Holi festival people have fun at night dressing up, often as local deities, and commemorate the ancient ritual of burning the witch Holika with bonfires.
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