A well organised, easy
and calm readathon, which gives you time to breathe, eat and sleep! And
ofcourse read endlessly !!
I am so thrilled to announce my participation in this year's bout of books
readathon. You all should participate too!
The
Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @
Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am
Monday, May 9th and runs through Sunday, May 15th in whatever time zone you are
in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand
prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 16 information and
updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books
team
Hailing
from the country that recognizes itself with different colors, it is nothing
but a walk down the memory lane when it comes to discussing Holi.
Coming
from a Bengali family and the land of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, holi
is incomplete without the familiar songs -
Aaji Dakhin-Duar Khola, Ore Bhai Phagun Legechhe, Rangiye Diye Jao, and the
list continues. Basant Utsav - 'celebration of spring' is organized by the boys
and girls at Shantiniketan. The cultural fest is filled with songs, music and
dance which attracts thousands of people year after year to enjoy the festival of
color.
Be
it the kid who keeps throwing the ball at your window, or the old aunty who
scolds you every time for playing high volume music, all forget their grudges
and come together during this time of the year. With a packet of sweets, knocking
at the doors of neighbors, coloring their face with abeer (powder), and taking the blessings of the elders is the
tradition being followed in our household.
Every
holi eve is packed with the known list of work which includes buying the dry colors
and the balloons, filling them with plain and colored water, and searching for
the most worn out pair of clothing to put on the next day. Morning of the big
day begins with applying oil on hair and all over the body to protect oneself
from the harsh chemicals. The ground is undoubtedly filled with people who have
started playing with colors in full swing. And before you know it, someone or
the other is there to paint your face and shout the famous quote “HOLI HAI!!!”
The next thing you know - it’s over three hours that you have been engrossed in
playing holi. With liquid colors, dry colors, water balloon attacks, water
guns, the whole atmosphere is charged with such high level of energy, that it
automatically spreads joy and happiness and celebrates the oncoming of spring.
Growing
up in a household that is so devoted, no holi has passed by without the offering
of color to our Gods and Goddess as a mark of respect. After the whole playing
session is over, and the battle to come out clean from the shower cabin has
ended, puja starts by offering Abeer (powder)
to Lord Krishna along with Radha.
The
streets depict the spirit with which holi was played. Filled with blue, green,
red, purple and innumerous colors, the lanes are no longer recognizable. The evenings
are awfully silent and everyone is on their rest mood. The late evening gala includes
music, song and dance performed by the kids of our complex. They all dress up
in yellow sari with flower on their hands and heads. Grooving to the rhythm of rabindra
sangeet, the day ends and one more holi passes by, making its way for us to
welcome a year that is filled with joy and cheerfulness, color and mirth.
“I’m pledging to#KhulKeKheloHoli this year by sharing my Holi memories atBlogAddain association with Parachute Advansed.”
