At the Oceanside Holi Festival of Color, participants danced and bathed themselves in spring colors. Photo by Chris Stone[/caption]
“OMG,” said one commenter online. “What an interesting way to celebrate spring. … It will save a trip to India.”
Oceanside is roughly 8,800 miles from Mumbai, so the savings were appreciable Saturday for those who showered themselves and strangers in the spring colors of violet, green, yellow, pink and orange — at $2 a corn-starch bag.
The Indian cultural event was the Holi Festival of Color at Oceanside Pier, where participants danced and tossed the color powder into the air as music and Hare Krishna mini sermons on peace filled the air.
The event — with dust masks sold for 25 cents and bandanas for $6 — also featured vegetarian cuisine, live DJs, mantra bands, Bollywood performances, interactive dance and yoga.
In Oceanside, “color throws” were held every two hours, starting at noon — part of a Hindu tradition of throwing worries to the wind and embracing the new season through social harmony. The tradition is traced back to the 16th century.
“One walk across the field was all it took for a rainbow of colors to cover every attendee,” said one description of the custom. “The frolicsome event brought out the mischievous side of people as they quickly plotted who to splatter next.”
Spring never ends for the tradition, however. Future Festivals of Colors are Saturday in San Fernando; May 28 in Ogden, Utah; Aug. 20 in Reno, Nevada; and Sept. 10 in Sacramento.
