Holi is around the corner and preparations are in full swing across the state. Street-side vendors and sweet shops are hardly getting time to catch a breath, with people getting busy with last minute Holi shopping. Many families, particularly women, are also planning to make Holi a private affair and are organising house parties. Understandably, with only two days to go many women are busy making last moment preparations. Orissa Post spoke to a few women, who shared their big Holi plans.
Kalyani Parida, a homemaker from Bhubaneswar prefers enjoying Holi at home with family and friends. “The essence of the festival lies in playing with colours and feasting with friends and family. Although we don’t organise a typical Holi party at home, but a number of family members drop in on this day and celebrate the festival with us. We sprinkle colours on each other and gorge on some sumptuous food. We make prior arrangements for snacks so that no one feels left out. However, I prefer to use disposable plates and spoons to avoid cleaning and rearranging things post the party,” says Kalyani, adding, “Watermelon juice is a must on the menu every year, as everyone finds it refreshing after playing Holi.”
Much like Kalyani, Soudamini Sahoo, a homemaker from Cuttack, too enjoys celebrating the day with family and friends at home. “The festival is meaningless without a party at home but furniture and walls getting soiled after the celebrations are a major concern. So, I cover the sofa and remove the carpets a day before the festival so that I don’t have to spend the evening removing colour strains from the furniture. Moreover, we have a designated area outside our house where we play colours and also rinse ourselves after the celebrations are over,” says Soudamini.
Anurupa Rout from Cuttack arranges a Holi party at home every year. It is a small party with few friends and close relatives. Since you can’t play Holi in empty stomach, I arrange a wide range of snacks like dahi badas, pakodas and lassi. When guests want to refuel themselves in between colour battles, they take a break and gorge on these dishes. However, arranging a party isn’t that easy. I try to make the dahi badas a day before the festival while a few dishes are cooked early in the morning on the day of the festival. My husband helps me in the kitchen and prepares lassi for the guests,” says Anurupa.
Cuttack-based Swarnalata Swain enjoys playing Holi with her neighbours. “Holi is incomplete without family and friends. I stay in a housing complex and the society members organise a party where everyone is invited. Wec split into three groups — men, women and children — and enjoy the festival to the hilt. Besides playing with colours, the society members also arrange for a lavish meal. Interestingly, we don’t use chemical colours. However, a few guests use chemical colours, so I also keep an eye on my child so that no one sprinkles chemical colours on him,” says Swarnalata.
SOYONG, OP
