Holi

The Hindu Festival of Holi has arrived!
Holi is the Hindu Spring festival celebrated throughout India and is also known as the festival of colours, or the festival of love.  It signifies the victory of good over evil, when people meet, play, laugh, and forgive and forget broken relationships.

It also signifies chaos and mayhem amongst young Hindus who plaster you with paint of many colours.

Oddly enough we were having a lunchtime snack with Dave & Ali and John & Linda when a dozen or so young Indians ran into the restaurant area and tried to hold us to ransom, threatening pink paint or 10 rupees.  John being an accountant stood up and said it was St Patrick's day tomorrow (not quite) and everyone had to pay 10 rupees to him as his name was Patrick. ;) Well you could have heard a pin drop, but good to their word they all coughed up 10 rupees each and John collected it.  After we all had a dousing in the dreaded pink paint anyway he gave them their money back.  You'd never guess hes and ex accountant.

One of the things that surprised me today was a close call with a Mongoose.  There are quite a few about apparently, but it shot across the pathway over someones cooking fire and was swiftly followed by a few pans that were thrown at it and a lot of shouting.  At least they keep the snakes down!!