India/Istanbul Trip Day 6: Holi and music festival (3/2)

Get some breakfast and then meet everyone in the lobby to head to the holi festival. Step out to get in the buses and the madness begins, people just start throwing powder on each other (there are groups warring in the quad of the hotel just covered in all colors) and of course our group gets involved. Once people are colored, we get in the shuttles and figure out our tickets then head to the park. Wait at the entrance for a little bit (we were early) and get wristbands then we realize the colors are free so people start going up to the check in area and just get handfuls of bags and start distributing them. Naturally this leads to phase 2 of people just chucking powdered color at each other (I have never been happier I brought sun glasses to an event). We are waiting in line to get in and once we enter, there are tables everywhere handing out more color; I am seeing a trend. 

The most empty I think you will ever see these streets regardless of hour/day.

Lady carrying a large sack on her head as she walks down the highway.

Pretty temple near the festival with an interesting name

We made it!

Lets go get checked in and get our bracelets.

Some entertainers came to dance with the guests as they wait to get in. The tall guys would color you but in a very nice, gentle way. It almost seemed ritualistic most of the times, some times just fun.

Wear clothes you don't mind throwing away they said. I now see why.

Just some people throwing powdered color on each other

Stage for cultural music to the left.

Cultural stage with a drum circle going on.

At the festival of colors, find a gorgeously colored flower. Seems appropriate.

The tower in the middle of the park. See what I am talking about?

There were artist painting this mural. It was a constant work. One layer would go on, they would then cover it and paint another layer. Was pretty cool to see it progress over the day. 

The main gang after a series of color barrages. We may be all dirty and colored but we are still smiling :)

The whole gang before we head back to the hotel after a successful holi festival.

We make a plan to meet at a certain area in a few areas to reassess people's feelings on whether we stay so group disperses and we wander around checking out the different stages and the area. Lots of bars set up everywhere, the stages having color cut outs everywhere for shade and there is this archaic/post-apocalyptic water tower looking building in the middle of the park (was exceptionally beautiful in a way). See people getting beer and find out the beer/alcohol is free, but water you have to pay for. So naturally I start getting beers and bouncing around to the different stages listening to the music at each one; one had cultural music (my favorite one by far due to the shade and the amazing music people were performing), one had edm, one hip hop (where I usually ran into the group), and one with a random assortment of music (some of the group would also find their way here throughout the day). It was at this last stage where I tried their Bhang, a supposed hallucinogenic milk they serve during Holi (when in Rome). Had one, nothing ever happened (assume it wasn't real as it was commercialized and in a festival - I bet if you want authentic bhang you need to be out in the streets somewhere) so I stuck to the beer and continued to enjoy the festival walking around from stage to stage meeting people and throwing more color on everyone. We meet up and everyone is tired from being out in the sun for 4-5 hours so we head back to the hotel and get cleaned up (it was incredibly impressive how much color powder gets caked on you and your clothes and your hair - but it is water soluble it seems so we were good). Small group of us go to town hall and finally get seated (last few times it was crowded and we couldn't be seated, today it was empty - probably due to the holiday). Food was good and they had 89rs beers for happy hour while we were there so we grab a few of those while we hang out and talk about the day. We are all tired (some fall asleep at the table) so we close out and head back to the hotel so people can get some sleep and rest up for the big day tomorrow (wedding day).