Holi and Holy

Today the streets were somewhat empty in terms of vehicular traffic but full of young people up to Holi Hijinks. Holi is a water festival held during the full moon to celebrate the beginning of spring. What this translates into is a lot of inebriated hooligans having water balloon wars across roads and across rooftops. "Bhang", or marijuana is legal during this holiday (as well as during Shiva Ratri - another post to come - I'm behind) and people lace sweets and drinks with it. Oooohwheee. While many an innocent bystander will get hit with water bombs full of water, vermilion dye or paint - most of the younger boys just put the war paint on up front. Faces of silver, red, purple and white stalk the streets, balloons in hand. People walk defensively, necks craning to see if they can avoid an incoming bomb from the roofs above. The kids love it. Adults seem to stay off of the streets. We were in a car and I was dying to get better shots, but kept the windows closed for the most part for fear of getting my camera trashed. Quite the spectacle!

Today may be Holi - but for us it is Holy. The service for Good Friday in the Book of Common Prayer ends with this:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, we pray you to set your passion, cross , and death between your judgment and our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Give mercy and grace to the living; pardon and rest to the dead; to your holy Church peace and concord ; and to us sinners everlasting life and glory; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Blessed Easter to you,

Laurel

It's over!

The Bandh is over. The fuel lines (think 70's but worse) linger but I think that both food and fuel are starting to make their way back into the city. The kids' school schedules are normal this week. Alleluia! Can you tell I'm feeling a little giddy?

And now we turn our attention to the upcoming "Constituent Assembly Poll" - that would the elections. We feel a bit schitzophrenic in our household as we pay rapt attention to the political news from both the US and Nepal. When your superduperTuesday ends and you are either awake but bleary eyed or have decided to can it and go to sleep, we are waking up and watching CNN with a cup of Chai to take in the results. It is kind of nice.

This is my second time composing this entry as the computer was ceremonially turned off by a certain two year old last time. I think I'm going to make it but better not press my luck.

Distracted but delighted,
Laurel