the day after

So Holi has come and gone and it was different than I expected, not that I knew what to expect. As instructed I stayed inside but I did spend a bit of time on my balcony seeing what was going on.
The first thing I noticed when I woke up was that is was quiet, almost eerily quiet. This is a pretty noisy country so you notice when it isn't. I went and looked outside and didn't see anyone...also rather odd. Then all of a sudden I heard voices yelling and there it was, holi in action. A few kids were running away from a few other kids throwing color on them. And thus the day progressed...generally very quiet with random bits of people - mostly kids - running up and down the road either throwing color, or water balloons, or trying to dodge what was being thrown.
The way I figure it most of the adults stayed inside to avoid getting covered in color; in the office today there is only one person who clearly got doused yesterday (one of her ears is completely covered in purple paint, it looks funny); and then kids run around trying to catch people...and each other. It was kind of like Halloween, except totally different.
And of course today there are sweets because no Indian holiday is complete without sweets.
I tried to get some pictures but they didn't really come out. It was hard to get too close without putting myself in harms way. But I'll see if I can get one that is good.
I can't help but wonder at the origins of Holi. It is the celebration of color, how does something like that begin? Someone said something about the change of seasons but they don't really have spring here, but maybe it is the beginning of the harvest or something. Oh well, I guess you don't really need a reason to have fun!