Day 22: Holi in Hampi

Early in the morning, the first children woke me up with wild shouts. A brief look out the window was enough to see that Holi was in full swing. The first children ran through the narrow streets of the small town, fueling themselves with bright colors that mixed on their bodies to create wild, colorful creations.

Once on the street, it didn't take long for me to be dipped in a cloud of color. Every tiny patch of exposed skin was immediately targeted and attacked. The local children surrounded me and wanted to use me as a human shield. From above, they fired at anything that moved. They didn't seem to mind that I was the one getting hit the most. In the heat of the battle, I found a second shooter to support me. The colorful spectacle was accompanied by extremely enthusiastic drummers who pounded on their drums as if in a trance, reminding even the most remote households of Holi. Thanks to numerous tips, I bathed my body and hair in coconut oil right at the beginning. Contrary to popular belief, it was not food coloring, but pure chemicals used to dye clothing, which are not entirely safe. So it's no surprise that even weeks later, traces of color on my body will remind me of an unforgettable festival.

After 4 thorough showers, I packed my backpack again and embarked on the same bumpy journey back to Goa.