The last Sunday in Jaipur we stayed at Atithi Guesthouse all day. After the Elephant Festival the Hindus were lightening a bonfire at the street corners as an introduction to the Holi Festival. I was given several explanations on the bonfire and the colour festival. It had something to do with good overcoming evil and getting rid of some demons through the fire.
In Atithi the festival was not celebrated, praise God. Our friends Zephry and Brenda came to join us for the day. We found a place to sit in the shadow on the roof terrace of our guesthouse. Here we enjoyed Masala Chai, cold drinks and even pizzas as the day passed by. We had a wonderful time of fellowship with our dear friends.
The next door guesthouse really celebrated Holi. We could hear all the noise and we went to look at what was taking place. There was loud music, wild dancing and throwing of colour powder on one another. A lot of young tourists from the West seemed to enjoy being coloured. I was so happy that we had a safe place on the terrace.
All the people going out in the streets were in danger of being thrown colour at. I saw one young European couple passing by. They were attacked by the Holi mob at our next door guesthouse. They were neat and clean when they were about to pass by, but when they were allowed to proceed they looked like a nasty colourful mess.
Two of the guests at Atithi hired an elephant to really celebrate Holi in the streets of the old city of Jaipur. Below you can see how these young white people from England looked like when they returned to the guesthouse. After two hours in the showers and 8 soaps the lady was still not clean!