12/03/2009 by bakary.

Yesterday was Holi, the Festival of Colours.

“Holi (referred to as Phagwa in Bhojpuri), also called the Festival of Colours, is a popular Hindu spring festival observed in India, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad, the UK, and Nepal. In West Bengal of India and Bangladesh, it is known as Dolyatra (Doljatra) or Boshonto Utsav (”spring festival”).

The main day, Holi, also known as Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before, also known as Holika Dahan (death of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi). The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad had when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion. Holika Dahan is referred to as Kama Dahanam in Andhra Pradesh.

Holi is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalugna or Falguna (Phalgun Purnima), which usually falls in the later part of February or March. In 2009, Holi (Dhulandi) is on 11th March and Holika Dahan is on 10th March.” (Source: Wikipedia)

I got a colourful email from a colleague in India yesterday:

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY “HAPPY HOLI (the Festival of Colours) Now in our country we are celebrating this festival.

Have lots and lots of fun

It reminded me of my trip to India last year. I was there for Holi and it was such fun watching people covered in colours, throwing colours at each others and generally being merry.

There was a multi-coloured tiny little dog. People were trying to throw colour on us… but we were watching from the safety of a bus!

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27/10/2008 by bakary.

Who says that you can’t get anything for free these days… New Orleans came to the O2 for an amazing two days of music and street parades. And it was all free!

I got there as the Rebirth Brass Band made its way down Bourbon Street. There was a real parade feel to it with traffic coming to a standstill. An New Orleans institution… ‘from playing the streets of the French Quarter to playing festivals and stages all over the world. Rebirth is committed to upholding the tradition of brass bands while at the same time incorporating modern music into their show.’ (source: MySpace). They were fun.

I caught up with them at the Louisiana Pavilion where they were joined on stage by Big Chief Monk Boudreaux. All very jolly and brassy! People joining in, dancing and singing.

Marcia Ball was on stage at indigO2. An American Blues singer and pianist, born in Texas but she actually grew up in Louisiana. She was brilliant. The crowd really went for it and it looked like she was having fun too. By the time she sang I’m Coming Down With the Blues, you could close your eyes and think that you were in a club in New Orleans. She has the perfect Bluesy voice.

Back at the Louisiana Pavilion, Allen Toussaint was wooing the crowd. One of the most influential figures in New Orleans’s R&B scene, Toussaint needs no introduction. A legend. I stayed for a couple of songs. It was a great performance but it felt a bit more polished than the other bands I had seen so far and I just wanted to keep that festival feeling…

 What a great way to spend a couple of hours… Vibrant music and great characters… all for free! Great fun.

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