It happens in India too…

DATELINE
SYDNEY HOLI
28th March 2000

It happens in India too…

They all came. Sona, Mona, Rupa…Rahul, Rajeev, Amit…Mr. and Mrs. Gupta, Mr. and Mrs. Khanna, Mr. and Mrs. Murthi. They all drenched each other in coloured water, in water, rubbed Gulal on each other’s cheeks. Just like they used to do in the Mohallas and colonies back home.

There are some differences though. While India celebrated Holi a week ago, Sydneysiders played Holi with the same aplomb a week after. In India it’s neighbour gunning for the neighbour, here all with guts and desire to continue with their traditions gathered in the premises of a high school- Castle Hill High School – on this Sunday.

Just like India, most people carried their own pudia (packet) of Gulal. It was a BYO Holi. In India there are many who refuse to carry even a speck of Gulal to play Holi. They believe in pinching from the host’s mounds of Gulal to reciprocate Gulal greetings. Here too, many didn’t bring their own pudiya of Gulal.
Organisers, Australian Hindi Indian Association (AHIA) knew it too well. Initially they left a few plates full of Gulal on a small desk to be plundered by all. But as the revelry was nearing its crescendo, AHIA decided to drop a pinch of Gulal in all those hands spread before them. Holi Prasadam indeed.

As usual Indians proved to be most innovative lot. Since long they have left all the baltis behind in India but they were quick to adopt empty rubbish bins and mop buckets to make their coloured water. The kids were ready with their sprinklers with ‘tanker’ capacity. You see a daa.laa.r is 28 times higher than the Indian rupee. Now wet paint was not allowed so a group of four youngsters decided to anoint each other with two cans of shaving cream.

The Holi revelry was taken over by the young – in age. Young boys and girls were scouting for their next victim as they prepared their Holi arsenal. And there you go – another full load of coloured water drenching yet another femme fatal.

For Mr. Young ‘Marcos’ from Philippines, it was his first Holi. As he admired his pink and red cheeks, young ‘Marcos’ proved to be a quick learner of Holi rituals. Last he was seen running after a group of three young Indian females, politely telling them that they were a bit too clean. Without waiting for an answer from them Mr. young ‘Marcos’ managed to rub his pinch of Gulal on the long black hair of his young Indian Holi victim. He was delighted with the achievement.

And so was every one else. A group of youngsters decided to pitch their wicket in the background of it all and practice their batting and bowling. And this completed the setting of an Indian scene on a hot sunny day, in the neat, suburban Australian landscape.

Perhaps, all this pandemonium behind them, kept the adrenalin running high in the young boys. It was certain, one Sachin Tendulkar could run faster between the wickets when a kid chased him with a pichkari.

What went missing was the Holi specialty – The Honourable Gunjiya. One sniffed and sniffed but still couldn’t find the most Honourable Gunjiya. Rest was there – Chole, Samosa, Gulab Jamun, Rice and curry. One also couldn’t find a glass of Bhanng and a Bhanng ka laddu.

But despite not having Bhanng and a Bhanng ka laddu, many managed to loss their – earrings.
One woman went round and round, looking for something in the green grass. Tim of Australia wondered if it was yet another Indian ritual. Yes, it was. The earrings do get pulled out and dropped when all this Holi wresting goes on.

You see Bareily doesn’t have the copyright on having a Jhumka getting lost in its markets. It can happen, 10,000 KM away on the playground of Castle Hill High School in Sydney. In fact Sydney came out a notch ahead in this Jhumka Giro ritual.
The woman after going round and round for more than 30 minutes found her earring, which was nestling nicely in a bit of green grass. What actually had happened that gold earring changed its colours to Holi colours making it too difficult to locate.

Now in India when you want to get the original colour back on your cheeks, you look for a clean pullo (Sari end) of a fellow Holi reveler or you very conveniently rub off all the extra colourings on the kurta sleeve of, let’s say your brother. But here in Australia, such a Holi act would be considered too rude.

All knowing AHIA had the solution. One AHIA volunteer was ready with piles of hand towels selling for a dollar each. Tim of Australia did some smart thinking. The hand towels, he found were selling cheaper then in the regular shops. He bought three hand towels to be used later – perhaps at next year’s Holi.

Meanwhile, Tarun was not able to solve the puzzle – Bhala Uski Kamij mujhse Safed Kaise Hai. You see Tarun wanted that ‘unique’ purplish Gulal to be spread on his white T-Shirt before he could pose for his Holi shot. It so happened that Pawan came pouncing with that purplish Gulal and rubbed it on his favoured few and disappeared. Finally, Tarun had to let his Holi desire die.


Later in the day, the action shifted to the auditorium hall for the cultural show. As it happens in India, here too all gathered as if directed by some divine force, pulled in their chairs in unison to get closer to the stage.
Ruchi Lamba of Sydney danced to the tune of ‘Chanak Chanak Gai, Churiya Raaat Maan’. Nikita and Ankita Kapoor continued with ‘Mohe Chedo Na Nand ke Lala’. An AHIA volunteer continued introducing the segments with, as we all agreed, with most Fatichar jokes.

But behold. Highlight of the Holi in Sydney was singing of Holi anthem ‘Rang Barse Bheege Chunar wali, Rang Barse’.
A most enthusiastic group of four females and two males thundered with the song – out of sync. As the female 'Rang Barse' hit the roof, the timid male ‘Rang Barse' came crashing.

But so what? It happens in India too.

©sumeghaagarwal