Holi in Jaipur

I have spent whole Holi period in Jaipur, though almost every day all my Brajbasi friends from Varsana and Vrindavan were calling me on my phone asking me to come to Vraj. Well, as much as I wanted to go - I couldn't due to my upcoming exams.

Jaipur was full of festivities though! Every day in Govindaji mandir from 12pm up to 5 pm, various artists from all over India were singing Holi bhajans, while people would play with colors in the middle of the courtyard.

Local market stalls in front of the temple and all over the city, offered variety of colors and pichkaris.

Here are a few shots of Govindadevji. An evening one. Lokanath Swami was giving Bhagavat Katha for one week in a pandal program just behind Govindaji temple (in Jai Nivas Gardens). I took this picture while I was having last darsan before heading off home after his class.

Govindadev in a festive mood!

And Radharani with a pichkari.

For 3 weeks before Holi, every day, Radha Govindadev were wearing a new outfit, made out of gulal - powdered color used in Holi play.

Gaura Purnima darsan. During the day there was also an abhisek of Lord Gauranga. Festivities related to Mahaprabhu's jayanti will continue in Jaipur all the way up to June. They will include harinam-sankirtan processions, special bhajans, katha from "Caitanya-caritamrta" and a competition for school children and students who will speak on life of Mahaprabhu.

The main Holi festival consists of 2 days. On Friday everyone played Holi in the temples. On that day on the evening, all over the city people burn big fires, perform puja and symbolically burn in it all the bad things that they would like to get rid of in their lives. This photo was taken on a road leading to Radha Gopinath mandir. Within this area people are quite traditional and very religious; it is a sweet community. So there I was - braving all the smoke and fires, zigzaging in between it on my scooter!

Saturday was the second day of Holi. On this day everyone plays Holi on the streets. Great fun! Here we are with the whole gang of Hindi students. Great highlight for us girls - we could freely attack all local boys who were passing by on their motorbikes and we could take a colorful revenge for all the trouble they give to all girls on the daily basis.

Here I am under the attack!

And this is how I looked after local kids splashed on me 5 buckets of water.

Jaipur held also an annual Elephant Festival, which falls on the purnima day. Folk dancing, elephant races and beauty contests were the highlights of the event. Enjoy the rest of the photos!