Holi, celebrating the arrival of Spring in India

March 18, 2011 10:45 PM

Holi is a wild, sexy celebration in India. People wear white and then throw or squirt colored powders and water at each other. There are bonfires, marijuana drink parties, mischief, all kinds of sweet pastries, venting of sexual heat, dancing in the streets and happy, colorful mayhem.

In that video clip a muse appears to a writer, portraying both male and female, while Ganesh, embodiment of new beginnings looks on.

Holi also commemorates various events in Hindu mythology, but for most Hindus it provides a temporary opportunity for Hindus to disregard social norms, indulge in merrymaking and generally "let loose...The entire holiday is associated with a loosening of social restrictions normally associated with caste, sex, status and age."

Dry Holi colors known as 'Gulal' and wet colors or 'Rang' were originally prepared naturally from the flowers and other products that had dyeing properties. Tesu flowers

“Bura na mano, Holi hai”—- “Don’t feel offended, it’s Holi.”

Holi traditions: the marijuana drink, bhang, that is popular at Holi parties (watch out for the bhang hangover) | sweets like Gujjiya, gazak and mathri, pitchkaris are (often phallic shaped) squirters used to shoot colored water.

Color symbolism

History of Holi | days one, two and three

Holi color symbolism

Interesting back story about the Bollywood movie in which the video clip of the post appeared, Navrang (nine colors), 1959 - with some more charming video clips from the same movie, like Darling Did You Call Me a Flower?

About the song itself: Arre ja re hat natkhat (Navrang) (1958) Singers-Asha Bhonsle, C Ramchandra, Mahendra Kapoor, Lyrics-Bharat Vyas, MD-C Ramchandra

Previously and previously.

posted by nickyskye (90 comments total)

When the American liquor industry catches wind of this, I think we've got a new holiday, right up there with St. Patrick's Day and Cinco de Mayo!
posted by msalt at 10:48 PM on March 18, 2011 [10 favorites]

Caste and class differences disappear under festive camouflage: smears of orange, green and yellow. Celebrate Holi!

Wow, so there's three days of the year when Indian society isn't a socially stratified, systematically discriminating mess of ancient snobbery?
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 11:03 PM on March 18, 2011 [3 favorites]

What's a "marijuana drink party"?

and where can I find one around here?
posted by twoleftfeet at 11:08 PM on March 18, 2011 [9 favorites]

A marijuana drink party, if you read the link above which has a recipe for it, is one where people drink a delicious, spiked smoothie called bhang. There are thousands of bhang parties all over India tonight. Or in Indian communities in the West.
posted by nickyskye at 11:11 PM on March 18, 2011 [1 favorite]

That's a whole lot of squirting in that first video.
posted by Artw at 11:14 PM on March 18, 2011 [1 favorite]

Sorry nickyskye, I missed the link on the first pass.

but I still want know where I can find one around here.
posted by twoleftfeet at 11:19 PM on March 18, 2011 [1 favorite]

This turns up on Nick Jr. between shows quite frequently.
posted by Artw at 11:24 PM on March 18, 2011 [4 favorites]

There was some kind of Indian-centric convention in New Orleans this week and I swear they used the St.Patrick's/Josephs' celebration as cover for doin' up a Holi. I saw more then one dyed conventioneer face gripping a hand grenade sippy cup, smiling.
posted by The Whelk at 11:25 PM on March 18, 2011 [2 favorites]

My introduction to this holiday was in a movie called Outsourced, which I saw on Netflix online up here in Canada. It may have relied on cliches a bit, but I enjoyed it, and I think the makers had a genuine love for India. The Holi scene was good fun.
posted by not_that_epiphanius at 11:26 PM on March 18, 2011 [6 favorites]

What a fascinating video clip...made me smile! Great post nickyskye.
posted by salishsea at 11:27 PM on March 18, 2011

Outsourced is a delightful movie! It's been made into an NBC sitcom and yesterday they aired a Holi-centric episode (you can watch it on the nbc website). I like the movie more than the show so far, and they are quite different, but any way to eventually get Holi into the awareness of people in the US is a net gain for me.
posted by Mizu at 11:28 PM on March 18, 2011 [1 favorite]

There's an episode of An Idiot Abroad where they send Karl Pilkington to India during Holi with predictably hilarious results.
posted by Dr. Zira at 11:35 PM on March 18, 2011 [15 favorites]

Oh yay learning about good things to see on NetFlix, can't wait to see Outsourced.

The last link in my post "colorful" should have linked to this slideshow of pics of Holi.
posted by nickyskye at 11:36 PM on March 18, 2011

It's been made into an NBC sitcom and yesterday they aired a Holi-centric episode (you can watch it on the nbc website). I like the movie more than the show so far, and they are quite different, but any way to eventually get Holi into the awareness of people in the US is a net gain for me.

It seemed to me like they used that episode to make their own version of the famous Community paintball episode. And they failed miserably.
posted by mrnutty at 11:37 PM on March 18, 2011

Tony Bourdain goes to the bhang shop in the Rajasthan ep of No Reservations, which is all actually pretty awesome even without weed lassis.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 11:43 PM on March 18, 2011 [6 favorites]

I don't get the whole bhang thing. So MJ is illegal, as a foreigner you'll get all kinds of grief from the Man, but then magically everyone has access to a supply at Holi? And nobody gets any heat? How does that work exactly?
posted by Meatbomb at 11:46 PM on March 18, 2011 [4 favorites]

Your color symbolism link is from a site I first encountered in 1999, Colors of India, a virtual internet representation of Holi. Colors of India (Virtual Holi) was theme number two of the events lined up on the sun calendar of the internationally collaborative Solar Eclipse '99 project. The event, scheduled for the evening of the 13th (Friday) of March, was designed around playing virtual holi through information technologies with other countries from around the world.
posted by netbros at 11:59 PM on March 18, 2011 [1 favorite]

The hot buttered bhang will give you much more bhang for your buck! The oils that bear THC, CBD and CBN are not soluble in water, but do nicely in oil or butter. Grind up the dried bud finely and sizzle it in butter, ghee, or vegetable oil under medium heat - too hot and the oil will vaporize, and don't cook it any longer than you need to.
posted by Xoebe at 11:59 PM on March 18, 2011 [2 favorites]

Yeah, the Indian government, like most governments, would rather not have MJ tourism or business. MJ as bhang does have a millennia old tradition in India as an integral part of Hindu culture but is used sparingly, mostly by religious devotees or on a few social occasions, like Holi or weddings.

Having been spiked without my knowledge with bhang on one occasion I can say that it's *strong*. I was crawling, literally, with the intoxication up a country road to get back home and it lasted 24 hours.
posted by nickyskye at 12:01 AM on March 19, 2011 [7 favorites]

If I understood it correctly, bhang isn't just any preparation from marijuana, but the ground up leaf of the female plant. Or maybe the male; I forget. But it's not the bud, nor extracted resin.

So, you could still find yourself in trouble if you had any charas (hash) on you, but bhang can be bought in plenty of stores with no problem whatsoever - usually in lassis but also in cookies or sweets. Only, for the most part the stores are relatively discreet, and you'd have to ask where they are if you wanted any. In some particularly touristic towns they're signposted for foreigners, but I suspect this isn't strictly kosher.

Shivratri is another festival where bhang lassis figure predominantly. It's the festival to celebrate the marriage of Lord Shiva to Goddess Parvati, which I was lucky enough to see in Shiva's holy city, Varanasi. I was told that "on Shivratri, everybody in Benaras is taking bhang lassi" [*head wiggle*] "Men, woman, grandmother, grandfather, everybody" [*head wiggle again, for further emphasis*]

And it turned out to be true - all the streets were closed off to traffic, and people wheeled out carts with big barrels from which the lassis were generously distributed, whereupon the entire city wandered about smiling & greeting each other with "Bom Bom Bhole!" - a chant in praise of Lord Shiva, the ascetic god who is credited with discovering marijuana.

As an aside to all that, Hindu holy men (sadhus) can smoke all the hash they like. It's an integral part of the religion.
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:06 AM on March 19, 2011 [11 favorites]

This is why Indian people shouldn't be allowed to marry.
posted by munchingzombie at 12:22 AM on March 19, 2011

Fantastic.
posted by BrotherCaine at 12:24 AM on March 19, 2011

Oddly enough, the word "bhang" seems to be etymologically unrelated to the word "bong".
posted by twoleftfeet at 12:30 AM on March 19, 2011

Wow, so there's three days of the year when Indian society isn't a socially stratified, systematically discriminating mess of ancient snobbery?

Well, it's a society that's changing; these things take time, but they're getting better. And frankly, if you snipe from afar simply because India is explicit with their class discrimination, then you come off as a hypocrite.
posted by spiderskull at 12:54 AM on March 19, 2011 [21 favorites]

spiderskull: "Wow, so there's three days of the year when Indian society isn't a socially stratified, systematically discriminating mess of ancient snobbery?

Well, it's a society that's changing; these things take time, but they're getting better. And frankly, if you snipe from afar simply because India is explicit with their class discrimination, then you come off as a hypocrite"

It's everywhere, of course, I know that. I try not to practice it myself, but I'm sure I fail often. It just seems a little strange to admire the three days of the year when things are slightly more the way they should be in one of the world's most populous countries.

Oh, and I forgot to add sexism to the above.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 1:39 AM on March 19, 2011

What's a "marijuana drink party"?

A gang-bhang.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:13 AM on March 19, 2011 [18 favorites]

It just seems a little strange to admire the three days of the year when things are slightly more the way they should be in one of the world's most populous countries.

All over the world, throughout history, cultures have had festivals and celebrations that temporarily step out of the norms of the time and much more wild behavior is tolerated in the name of Spring or Summer or the New Year or the grape harvest or whatever. Carnival is an example. Spring Break is another.

India may be very traditional in some ways but it has always been, in my estimation, a very advanced culture in many other ways.
posted by nickyskye at 4:14 AM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

Raang Barse

[infamous for the oozing repressed sexual tension adn the real life undercurrents of the actor's real life wife and mistress in the scene]
posted by infini at 4:17 AM on March 19, 2011 [4 favorites]

"Wow, so there's three days of the year when Indian society isn't a socially stratified, systematically discriminating mess of ancient snobbery?

Because we certainly don't have class or discrimination here in North America, oh wait.
posted by Fizz at 4:37 AM on March 19, 2011 [6 favorites]

Holi Cow
posted by Meatafoecure at 4:51 AM on March 19, 2011

Where does one obtain the holi colors?
posted by telstar at 4:52 AM on March 19, 2011

Where does one obtain the holi colors?

Visit your local Hindu Temple.
posted by Fizz at 5:01 AM on March 19, 2011

And if you are already nursing a bad bhang hangover, here's advice
- Have a glass of lemon or orange juice with water
....
- Make sure to keep bhang glasses out of reach of children.

Yeah, fucking kids get all high when I'm already nursing one real fucker over here. Damn, why is everything so loud!
posted by hal_c_on at 5:23 AM on March 19, 2011

I learned about Holi from the excellent song in the film The Rising: The Ballad Of Mangal Pandey. It looks fun!
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:30 AM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

I learned about Holi from the Amazing Race a couple years ago, where the contestants had to run through a color-tossing crowd to obtain their next instructions. All the contestants seemed annoyed and/or offended that people would be throwing colored powder on them, whining "stop it, come on" over and over. Wifey and I unanimously agreed that due to this event we'd fall behind in the race, because Holi looked like fun and rather than going right to the next pitstop we'd have to throw around some color and dance in the street for a while first.
posted by AzraelBrown at 5:40 AM on March 19, 2011 [2 favorites]

One of my favourite childhood memories if the drive home from Temple after a particularly excessive and near violent Holi war with the other kids at Temple. Sitting in the back seat of my parent's van on top of towels while mom tells me to be careful not to get Holi all over the car. And then the joy of taking a shower and watching a myriad of rainbow colours pool into a dark puddle of black at the bottom of my tub.
posted by Fizz at 5:55 AM on March 19, 2011 [23 favorites]

President Nguema, dictator of Equitorial New Guinea, was an infamous heavy bhang user. He became extremely paranoid, staged imaginary executions, and claimed he could solve the country's problems with his magical powers. (spoiler: he couldn't)

So yeah, bhang is pretty potent stuff.
posted by RokkitNite at 6:04 AM on March 19, 2011 [2 favorites]

The Southeast Asian Students Association at my undergrad always had a giant water balloon fight in the grassy area between the dorms to celebrate Holi. It always degenerated into a giant mud fight. There were people strategically placed around the Swamp with hoses to clean people off before they went inside.

There was probably some amount of release of sexual tension inherent in that, too...
posted by ChuraChura at 6:11 AM on March 19, 2011

President Nguema, dictator of Equitorial New Guinea, was an infamous heavy bhang user. He became extremely paranoid, staged imaginary executions, and claimed he could solve the country's problems with his magical powers.

Lemme guess.... his public appearances degenerated into rants about "winning" and tiger blood?
posted by hippybear at 6:46 AM on March 19, 2011

President Nguema, dictator of Equitorial New Guinea, was an infamous heavy bhang user. He became extremely paranoid, staged imaginary executions, and claimed he could solve the country's problems with his magical powers.

Yeah, but what has he done for the country lately?
posted by oxford blue at 6:54 AM on March 19, 2011

How have I never heard of this before? It looks like such a joyous, happy festivity!
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 7:02 AM on March 19, 2011

How have I never heard of this before? It looks like such a joyous, happy festivity!

Because most Indians are socially stratified, systematically discriminating snobs. ;-)
posted by Fizz at 7:04 AM on March 19, 2011

> My introduction to this holiday was in a movie called Outsourced, which I saw on Netflix online up here in Canada.

You had me all interested, but for some reason it is not available on Netflix Canada now. Sigh. I don't know what is so hard to understand about "I have money and would like to stream this movie".
posted by Bovine Love at 7:32 AM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

Karl Pilkington went to the festival in a recent episode of An Idiot Abroad. No bhang, though.
posted by fixedgear at 8:03 AM on March 19, 2011

President Nguema, dictator of Equatorial New Guinea

Fixed that for you.

You're thinking of Equatorial Guinea, the nation in Africa, not New Guinea (aka Papua New Guinea) which is in the tropics north of Australia.
posted by UbuRoivas at 8:06 AM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

Rokkitnite: President Nguema, dictator of Equitorial New Guinea [sic], was an infamous heavy bhang user. He became extremely paranoid, staged imaginary executions, and claimed he could solve the country's problems with his magical powers. (spoiler: he couldn't)


Hey. Hey! At least he tried. What have you done to solve Equatorial Guinea's problems, Mr. Big Man? Mr. Let's All Laugh At The Guy Who Thinks He's Magic? Huh?
posted by Naberius at 8:43 AM on March 19, 2011 [3 favorites]

I really like how it's called holiday (holi day).

Also, for the stoners in the crowd, bhang is nothing like a traditional "high," -- it's way more debilitating than it is fun. But then again, so is alcohol.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 8:45 AM on March 19, 2011

"Also, for the stoners in the crowd, bhang is nothing like a traditional "high," -- it's way more debilitating than it is fun. But then again, so is alcohol."

Even in moderation?
posted by oxford blue at 8:46 AM on March 19, 2011

No - in moderation, the debilitating effects of bhang and/or alcohol are counteracted by the adrenaline hit of deleting a post or banhammering somebody.
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:05 AM on March 19, 2011 [2 favorites]

From Rokkitnite's link: During Christmas of 1975 he ordered execution of about 150 of his opponents. Soldiers executed them by shooting at the football stadium in Malabo, while amplifiers were playing Mary Hopkin's "Those Were the Days".
posted by stinkycheese at 9:27 AM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

When I was in a cult in the 70's, Divine Light Mission, headed by the once teen Guru Maharaj Ji, we celebrated Holi. This SLYT slide show with its appropriately saccharine new agey devotional soundtrack gives you and idea of how a quasi-Hindu cult leader celebrated Holi. Hint: water cannon. (I think this was in a stadium in Miami Beach?)
posted by kozad at 9:33 AM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

From Rokkitnite's link: During Christmas of 1975 he ordered execution of about 150 of his opponents. Soldiers executed them by shooting at the football stadium in Malabo, while amplifiers were playing Mary Hopkin's "Those Were the Days".

Life as performance art. If it weren't so horrifying, I'd have to applaud the statement.

If it were a scene from a Tarantino film, we'd all chuckle at it.
posted by hippybear at 9:35 AM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

Of course I can't find the post now, but the cheap colored powders are quite toxic.
posted by philomathoholic at 9:53 AM on March 19, 2011

...and then there is Now Ruz, the ancient in origin Iranian New Year, which begins on the Vernal Equinox and as the eve of that happens to coincide with tonight's full moon, I believe, both lunar and solar calendars will most auspiciously agree -- or so one should hope.

And being it is a bigger-than-the-average-bear full moon at that, God, I hope it's clear here tonight.
posted by y2karl at 10:01 AM on March 19, 2011

MetaFilter: Hot Buttered Bhang
posted by Splunge at 10:24 AM on March 19, 2011

Very nice post. Thanks, nicky.
posted by homunculus at 10:33 AM on March 19, 2011

So it looks like I should have been partying with my coworkers this week. Maybe next year.
posted by TrialByMedia at 10:33 AM on March 19, 2011

for some reason it is not available on Netflix Canada now

I will not blaspheme this festival by cursing Netflix. For the record my account says:

"You watched this on 12/23/10"
posted by not_that_epiphanius at 10:34 AM on March 19, 2011

And that super moon is full NOW.
posted by infini at 11:10 AM on March 19, 2011

Great post! I found this while browsing youtube for Bollywood clips a while back, but never knew the context.

(and another lower quality version with English subtitles.)
posted by Wemmick at 11:10 AM on March 19, 2011

The use of the word "sexy" in this post made me go "Ewww" because I mainly participated as a child and my parents were fine with it but they never actively participated. I once threw a handful of blue in some kid's eye and was made to feel very guilty about it.

Holi also commemorates various events in Hindu mythology, but for most Hindus it provides a temporary opportunity for Hindus to disregard social norms, indulge in merrymaking and generally "let loose...The entire holiday is associated with a loosening of social restrictions normally associated with caste, sex, status and age."

As I was born Hindu and raised Hindu, it's always amazing to me how people who aren't Hindu and maybe studied it from an academic perspective think everything they read is how modern people view it and how "all Indians" view it. I had no idea I was supposed to be cavorting around high on bhang and letting grown men have their way with me.
posted by anniecat at 11:15 AM on March 19, 2011 [3 favorites]

venting of sexual heat, dancing in the streets and happy, colorful mayhem.

I would really be glad to see if any other Indian people born and raised in India actually witnessed "venting of sexual heat" during Holi, because either my parents did a good job keeping me away from that or I seriously think there's been some misinterpretation. Also, I don't recall any bhang parties, and I have a large extended family.

The mythology of Prahlad and Holika is widely told. I don't know why, and it's been very long, but for some reason, I thought Holika wasn't his aunt, but stepmother or that the King had many wives and Holika wanted to make sure her son would have the throne. Though there are lots of myths in that vein and I could be confusing them. Man I loved that story as a kid.

I'll be emailing them with questions.
posted by anniecat at 11:22 AM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

There's a Holi celebration happening right now in Jersey City. Don't know about the availability of bhang.
posted by yarrow at 11:41 AM on March 19, 2011

Just fyi, there is an interesting vote buying scandal going on in India right now, based on cablegate, really deserves an fpp.
posted by jeffburdges at 12:02 PM on March 19, 2011

Jai Ganesh!
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 12:27 PM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

Metafilter: I had no idea I was supposed to be cavorting around high on bhang and letting grown men have their way with me.
posted by found missing at 12:46 PM on March 19, 2011 [2 favorites]

actually witnessed "venting of sexual heat" during Holi

Flings cyber Holi powder, blue. C'mon, shake that desi bootie! *runs away giggling
posted by nickyskye at 12:50 PM on March 19, 2011

anniecat, if Holi is treated anything like Mardi Gras then they probably took you to the local equivalent of the Metairie Suburb Family Mardi Gras, not the equivalent of World Famous Bourbon Street Mardi Gras.
posted by localroger at 1:06 PM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

drugs, sex and rock n roll!
posted by clavdivs at 1:20 PM on March 19, 2011

I was lucky enough to be staying with friends in Mumbai during last year's Holi. It was one of the most amazing celebrations I've ever been a part of. As for bhang, however: unequivocally nasty, with no pleasurable high at all, just a dull mental fog and a lingering grassy aftertaste.
posted by /\/\/\/ at 2:38 PM on March 19, 2011

MetaFilter: unequivocally nasty, with no pleasurable high at all, just a dull mental fog and a lingering grassy aftertaste.
posted by hippybear at 2:43 PM on March 19, 2011 [4 favorites]

Flings cyber Holi powder, blue. C'mon, shake that desi bootie! *runs away giggling

Oh God. I just envisioned a bunch of white Mefites dancing around in Mumbai, sick on bhang, flinging "Holi powder." Good Lord. I'd better alert the Indian government to this thread so they know how to explain it to President Obama when it all takes the inevitable bad turn.
posted by anniecat at 4:23 PM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

anniecat, if Holi is treated anything like Mardi Gras then they probably took you to the local equivalent of the Metairie Suburb Family Mardi Gras, not the equivalent of World Famous Bourbon Street Mardi Gras.

I was pretty sheltered. Thank God.
posted by anniecat at 4:25 PM on March 19, 2011

when it all takes the inevitable bad turn

party pooper ;-)
posted by nickyskye at 4:42 PM on March 19, 2011

*throws blue, yellow, green and grey dye*
posted by The Whelk at 4:43 PM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

I love Holi----if I'm celebrating it with friends in a back yard, or watching a city from the safety of a balcony. Since I'm not crazy about rainbow-hair for weeks (at best) or being pinned against a wall while roughly a dozen teenagers use the opportunity to "add color" to my tits and ass (at worst) I would have to say my love for Holi is mainly theoretical.
posted by DenOfSizer at 5:07 PM on March 19, 2011

I love Holi----if I'm celebrating it with friends in a back yard, or watching a city from the safety of a balcony. Since I'm not crazy about rainbow-hair for weeks (at best) or being pinned against a wall while roughly a dozen teenagers use the opportunity to "add color" to my tits and ass (at worst) I would have to say my love for Holi is mainly theoretical.

Exactly how I feel Re: new years in most major cities but mostly Amsterdam.

I'd very glad the teenagers are shooting fireworks in the streets and off balconies but I'd like to not be in the line of fire when it happens.
posted by The Whelk at 5:09 PM on March 19, 2011

Fizz: ""Wow, so there's three days of the year when Indian society isn't a socially stratified, systematically discriminating mess of ancient snobbery?

Because we certainly don't have class or discrimination here in North America, oh wait"

Yes, and that makes it impossible to point out that it's even worse elsewhere.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 2:04 AM on March 20, 2011

all kinds of sweet pastries, venting of sexual heat

I have seen no discussion of these sweet pastries.
posted by benzenedream at 2:32 AM on March 20, 2011

Just had that discussion with my mother - the sweet pastry is called gujia
posted by infini at 3:51 AM on March 20, 2011

Gujia are delicious - like a cornish pastie filled with nuts, coconut & raisins, and with the pastry on the outside glazed with sticky sugary goodness. Only, infini's recipe doesn't seem to contain pistachios in addition to the almonds. Badam pista gujia; that's what you want. You can also make gujia with cashews (kaju).
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:10 AM on March 20, 2011 [1 favorite]

*throws blue, yellow, green and grey dye*

Nooooo, my professional white shirt...
posted by dmit at 6:21 AM on March 20, 2011 [1 favorite]

You can't tell me that's non sexual tree-squirting in that video with the wacky Hermaphrodite dance.
posted by Artw at 8:19 AM on March 20, 2011 [1 favorite]

I dreaded Holi as a kid -- I grew up in Delhi, i.e. the northern plains, so it was usually cold. Sure, it may be around 65 F, but walking around in a wet tshirt in a wind... brrr!

And the lowered inhinibitions meant women (and girls!) could be openly groped, and bullies of all stripes were bolder. It was a little frightening.

Bhang, though, gets an unqualified thumbs-up from me. Like a milkshake that gets you high. A very pleasant high too, happy-happy with bouts of uncontrolled laughter.
posted by phliar at 11:08 AM on March 20, 2011

all kinds of sweet pastries, venting of sexual heat

I have seen no discussion of these sweet pastries.

You have to cut the crust a little and set them out on a counter to allow the sexual heat to vent.
posted by krinklyfig at 2:19 PM on March 20, 2011 [3 favorites]

It does bring a new level of meaning to the phrase "a bun in the oven"...
posted by hippybear at 2:22 PM on March 20, 2011

Someday I'll have to do a sexually scandalous May Pole and Cheese Rolling FPP. Obby Os!
posted by Artw at 2:26 PM on March 20, 2011 [2 favorites]

Those gujia look delicious. I love Indian food, but I'm usually underwhelmed by the desserts aside from kulfi and the ubiquitous gulab jamun. I'm going to have to see if I can get Khoya at one of the local Indian groceries.
posted by BrotherCaine at 4:30 PM on March 20, 2011

The Big Picture: Holi: Festival of Colors
posted by homunculus at 9:00 AM on March 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

For any bay area mefites still following this thread, there is a Holi celebration at Stanford this upcoming Sunday.
posted by benzenedream at 11:58 AM on March 31, 2011 [1 favorite]