Indian Spring... with Color, Dance, and Song

Suddenly, it turns green in front of me. A young Indian man in his twenties, from the darkness of a shop in the mango sellers' alley, rubs his colored hand on my face. From top to bottom. In four or five seconds, my face turns into a dyeing pot. My eyes widen (so much that I feel they might pop out). The young man in his twenties flashes a broad smile (so much that I can count almost all his teeth). - Hehehehe - Huh? Ah... he's laughing! - Happy Holi (Holi Mubarak). I had completely forgotten that the 'Holi' festival had started. The celebration of spring's arrival. The festival of throwing colors on the people. The young man in his twenties fades into the darkness of the shop. The daily noise of the people returns, filling the silence in my ears. My eyes narrow. I smile broadly, so that people in the mango sellers' alley can count almost all my teeth. The Holi festival is a favorite among the younger generation. Every year, when spring arrives, people in India have several major festivals, one of the most famous being 'Holi' or, in other words, 'the festival of colors.' Depending on the lunar calendar of 'Vikram Samvat' in India and Nepal, this festival occurs sometime in March (in Farvardin, sometimes at the end of Esfand). Spring festivals, whether among Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, and other people, continue until the end of Farvardin. It is not surprising; from Nowruz to Holi in India and Nepal or Hanami (the cherry blossom festival) in Japan, Samjinal in Korea, and the Chinese New Year, people in Asia celebrate the arrival of spring in various ways. In almost all cases, these festivals are related to agriculture and harvesting. In other words, the beginning of work and business. Everyone colors each other; color symbolizes spring and blossoming. For foreigners, Holi is one of the most famous festivals in India. There is no corner of this vast land where one cannot find traces of the festival of colors, even in Kashmir. Young people spend at least two days outside, in the streets and alleys, by the sea, or in small villages, on mountains, or in big cities, engaged in throwing colors, dancing, and climbing walls. Although this festival may not be considered one of the most important religious celebrations, it is one of the largest public ceremonies of dance, song, and joy (without hand grenades, of course). The Holi festival lasts at least two days... at least. Holi can be seen everywhere, in the streets, alleys, markets, and in open bars and parks. For two or three days in the streets of Bangalore, they throw colors at each other so much that they spend a week cleaning up the colors afterward. Previously, these colors were usually natural and probably easier to clean. But these days, there is not much news of natural colors. Throwing so many unnatural colors is not without risk; not for people's eyes, nor for the nature that has to digest it. Seeing colored faces and people in the streets and even at work is not strange if someone does not want to... they may be forced to submit to color. Holi has another feature that is not far from Iranian culture: 'the festival of colors' or 'the festival of kindness,' reminding us of the victory of goodness over evil, the triumph of good over bad; with color, dance, and song. On the last evening of the Holi festival, tired faces; color in the air, on clothes, even food and water taste of color. On the night of the start of the Holi festival, people pray in front of a large fire to cleanse the evils within them and to start a good and happy year: 'My yellowness is from you, your redness is from me...' ... No! No! No one jumps over the fire. The changing battlefield of 'proxy wars'; the war against the people in the streets of Iran. The first paragraph; the responsibility of the opposition and the possibility of radicalizing Iranian society. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iranian crisis. Trump: I hope there is no need for further action regarding Iran; they were killing people recklessly. The shadow of war over Tehran; 'Trump is looking for decisive military options against Iran.' Trump says if the Islamic Republic carries out a terrorist act against him, 'it will be wiped off the face of the earth.' Trump emphasizes 'the cessation of executions in Iran': we do not know what will happen in the future. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iranian crisis.