Holi is a popular ancient Indian festival. It celebrates the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love and for many, it is a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. Holi celebrations start on the night before Holi with a Holika Dahan where people gather, perform religious rituals in front of the bonfire, and pray that their internal evil be destroyed the way Holika, the sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, was killed in the fire. The next morning is celebrated as Rangwali Holi (Dhuleti) – a free-for-all festival of colors, where people smear each other with colors and drench each other.

I wander in these empty streets.

The revelry is over
The doors are locked
And dogs are dozing on the steps.

The color has dried on my face
And hair.

The air
Is hot with a trace
Of mango flowers in bloom.
There must be a
Mango grove somewhere.

Yellow and dry
Neem leaves
Rustle and race
Then gather in a pile.

For a while.

Then flutter again
And fly.

Coming from far
I hear
The thaap* and bol*
Of a song on a dhol*
And thereafter
Someone’s laughter.
* Hindi words; English translation thaap (beat); bol (lyrics);  dhol (drum)

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An abbreviated version in Hindi follows.

होली की दोपहर
—————–
विरल हवा
आम के बौर की गंध
नीम की सूखी पीली पत्तियां
खनखनाती हैं

दूर कहीं ढोलक की थाप
पास बेहद सन्नाटा।
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