Preston's Technicolor "Holi" Day

Well it seems like all over the world, there is some sort of celebration of the beginning of Spring......in the US, color is infused into Easter in the form of dying eggs.......in India, you dye your body.....well you don't, your friends and strangers do it for you.

So goes the celebration in India called "Holi".

Preston was picked up in a taxi by a group of his friends at 9:00am,and after a 500 rupee ride to somewhere in Delhi, Preston's Holi celebration started.

That's right, we had no clue as to where I son was going with 4 other teenager's in this city of 17 million people, but we knew that he would not come back the same way he left us.....clean, well somewhat clean. We did speak to Parker and he thought we were crazy to let Preston go off, and not know where he was going. Of course, he proclaimed that we would have "never let him do that at 15 years old". And he is probably right.....but neither Linda nor I knew what to expect and we decidedly chose to celebrate our first Holi.....as spectators.

However, we did give Preston certain instructions....Be careful, don't drink anything strange...only water, stay with your friends, call us occasionally and let us know you are OK, keep up with your money, have fun and one more final "be careful".
If the pictures didn't paint (no pun intended) a clear picture, as I am writing this blog, he just emerged from the shower......and he proudly came to show me the Q-tips......black from his left ear, red from his right......It appears that he had fun!

Holi is not your typical celebration, as you may have gathered....and Preston came back in one piece, and didn't drink anything strange......yes, there is a drink that is traditionally served at Holi which is called BHANG.

Bhang is a type of tea.....sounds innocent doesn't it....here is the recipe..... There's also a Hot Buttered Version as well!

Flavoured Bhang - Ingredients

2 cups water
2 ounces marijuana (fresh leaves and flowers of a female plant preferred)
4 cups warm milk
2 tablespoons blanched and chopped almonds
1/8 teaspoon garam masala (a mixture of cloves, cinnamon, and cardamon)
1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger
1/2 to 1 teaspoon rosewater
1 cup sugar

DID YOU NOTE THE SECOND INGREDIENT??????

When Linda reached him by phone, Preston's explained that he was at the British High Commission (Embassy) with his friend George.....and that he only had 20 rupees and needed a ride home.

Ramesh, our driver was off today, so it was my turn to drive in Delhi once again.....so I did get to have some fun on Holi also.

I brought some old sheets to drape over the car seat, and retrieved him for the drive back home......in one piece, but covered in FUN!

Have a very HAPPY HOLI...wherever you are.....personally, I cannot wait until next year.....stay tuned for the pictures!