From the Land of the Rajas:

Creativity in Rajasthan

A spring festival of colors, especially popular in northern India, Holi (March–April) celebrates the youthful pranks of Krishna.  Once a fertility festival, Holi is generally marked with riotous and exuberant behavior, especially squirting colored water and throwing powder at people.

Gangaur

Gangaur (March–April) is the most popular spring festival in western India.  During this holiday, girls of marriageable age offer prayers for a good husband to marry, while married women pray for the long life of their husbands.  They appeal to the gods Isar and Gauri (also known as Gangaur), versions of Shiva and Parvati.  The rite culminates by carrying large images of the gods in a procession.

Raksha Bandhan

Literally “to bind protection,” Raksha-Bandan (July–August) celebrates the bond between a brother and sister.  A sister ties a decorative band (rakhi) around the right wrist of her brother, who in return gives her a gift with the promise to protect her.

Gangaur procession
Photo by Shalini Ayyagari, Jaipur, 2005–06

Women with millet sprouts for Gangaur
Photo by Renaldo Maduro, 1969–70

Scroll painting:  Gangaur procession (9-11423)
Photo by Therese Babineau, 2006