Today I played Holi* after ten years! In Canada! Yes, I know
you are thinking, “Holi in August?! Is she crazy?” Well, it wasn’t exactly Holi
but for me and my friends it was. We participated in a five kilometer walk/run
called “Run or Dye”. It is a fun event where everybody gets a packet of
coloured powder dye to put on other people. It was so much fun to put the
colour on my friends’ clothes, faces and hair.
 |
| Thanks to my friend Niyati for this pic |
I am by no means athletic or a runner. But I signed up for
this run just for fun. My friend who invited me to register for this said “It
will be like playing Holi”. She was probably going to say more, but I stopped
her right there by saying, “I’m in. You don’t have to give me any other reasons
to join”. I did my 5K by alternating running with walking. At every kilometer
on the running path, there were “dye stations”, where runners were bombarded
with one colour by the organizing staff. I made sure I stopped at every one of
those so that I could get all the different colours – green, blue, orange and
pink on me. It was a beautiful experience. The whole atmosphere was full of
energy and fun. Everybody looked excited and happy. After the run, we danced to
the music played by the DJ. I did some bhangra moves to English music. In other
words, “Marjaani paundi bhangra, angreji beat te”.
 |
| Thanks to my friend Niyati for this pic |
At the end of the day, I am tired and sore but I feel
fulfilled in so many ways. My physical self is happy because I worked out. My
social self is happy because I hung out with my friends. My IBCD** self is
happy to have played Holi and danced Bhangra. What a wonderful day!
*An Indian festival where people put color on each other
** Indian Born Canadian Desi
No comments:
Post a Comment