Tags
Assam, Bhutan, Celebrating Holi, Festival of Colors, Guwahati, Hindu traditions, Holi, India, Indian Festival of Colors Holi, Saraswati, spring
I love writing about holidays, celebrations and live-affirming traditions from around the world. On this blog, I have written extensively about the Russian New Year celebration, March 8 – the International Women’s Day, as well as about various Chinese New Year celebrations and traditions. I have also written about the festivity that was the Sochi Olympics.
Two years ago, when this blog was just starting out, my friend from India, Pranjal Borthakur, and I did a post together. That post immediately became one of the popular posts on my blog. It was about Holi, the famous Hindu festival of colors, as well as about Pranjal’s school. Read the original post (with great pics + history and traditions of Holi): Holi, the Indian Festival of Colors, with Guest Pranjal Borthakur.
Today, my guest Pranjal again is graciously sharing some wonderful photos of his home and the beautiful celebration of Holi in the capital of the Indian province of Assam, Guwahati. This time, in addition to Holi, Pranjal, his school and family have also been celebrating the birthday of my favorite Hindu goddess Saraswati, the patron of the arts, knowledge and wisdom.
Saraswati – goddess of the arts and knowledge
Pranjal is a teacher and school owner. His school is for the children of the poor in the area. He is a very kind soul, who believes in equal educational opportunity for everyone, including the underprivileged. However, in the past two years, he has encountered a lot of resistance from local authorities and a lack of funding. My prayers are with Pranjal and his school. I hope the hard times are over soon, Pranjal. May your school and educational method be a great success, and may all the children of India have equal access to good education. More about Pranjal’s school in my original post.
Pranjal enclosed this note about Saraswati Puja:
Holi is the world-renowned Hindu festival of colors. It is usally celebrated in March, when the nature awakens after a long winter. It is the time when colorful and fragrant new blooms, together with the birds, sing praise to life. Originally the paints for Holi were made naturally – from the colorful petals of Hindi flowers. Unfortunately, lately, the paints tend to be chemical. However, the symbolism is still beautiful – the celebration of the awakening of all life. There are some elaborate and joyful rituals that are performed during Holi.
Below: Pranjal, his family and friends are celebrating Holi. The tradition is to color each other’s faces, hair, etc., with various bright paints. 
Garden on the roof of Pranjal’s house – growing colorful flowers of spring
Pranjal and his adorable animals
Pranjal’s house
Pranjal’s niece, Mamu, celebrating Holi
More Holi with family and friends
Celebrating with music, song and dance
More of Pranjal’s garden
More Holi and Saraswati birthday celebration
I hope you enjoyed our colorful journey to Assam, India.
Assam is located in the very north-eastern corner of India
Many thanks to Pranjal Borthakur, his family and friends for sharing their Holi with us!
Follow Pranjal on Twitter @PranjalBorthak1
Reblogged this on pranjalborthakur.
How lovely to see this other, and most caring, culture. Bless those who help the poor, the children, the voiceless. A lot of love shows through in those photos, to all, including the animals. Beautiful, Lada, very beautiful. love, Paulette
Thank you, dear Paulette. I am sure Pranjal will be very happy to hear your words. You are right, there is a lot of love… Pranjal is very blessed in ways that some can only dream about. I keep telling him that. 🙂
Thank you so much Lada for such excellent representation of the pics. Congratulations Lada! All Regards to you for the awesome post.
It’s your pics, Pranjal. I only put them together. 🙂