Holi - Festival of Colors

Festival of Colors

Holi, also called the Festival of Colors, is a popular Hindu spring festival observed in India, Nepal, and countries with large Hindu diaspora.

The main day, Holi, also known as Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before, also known as Holika Dahan (death of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi). The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad had when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion. Holika Dahan is referred to as Kama Dahanam in Andhra Pradesh.

Holi is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalugna or Falguna (Phalgun Purnima), which usually falls in the later part of February or March.

Rangapanchami occurs a few days later on a Panchami (fifth day of the full moon), marking the end of festivities involving colours.

Last weekend, Courtney and Katie went to a local celebration of Holi or Festival of colors. And I thought I would share some pictures with you. I don't know about you but I think this looks like so much fun. I want to do this someday before I die.

Nice and clean before the fun begins.

After --so colorful. And a beautiful temple.

Socialist

Socialists in Democrat clothing? What do you think? According to wikipedi this is the definition of a socialist:

"Socialists mainly share the belief that capitalism unfairly concentrates power and wealth among a small segment of society that controls capital, creates an unequal society, and does not provide equal opportunities for everyone in society. Therefore socialists advocate the creation of a society in which wealth and power are distributed more evenly"

Does this sound like anyone you know? Take from the rich and give to the poor.... Are you someone who is "pulling the wagon" or are you someone who is getting a "ride in the wagon". How does it make you feel if you are pulling the wagon?

A government owned bank and now a government owned auto company....even though "they" are being very careful to say they do not own or run GM they are just there to make sure it is run properly. Kinda is reminding me of the whole "frog in boiling water" story.

I am feeling more and more that are country is headed down a very slippery slope. And I don't know what I can do about it.....anyone have ideas? Please share with me.

Noteworthy In Sacramento

NOTEWORTHY

Here are some pictures of the big Noteworthy weekend. In case, you are new to my blog Noteworthy is an all female a cappella group from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. My daughters Courtney and Katie are both in the group. Noteworthy came to Sacramento this past weekend for a concert. They performed at Sheldon High Schools Performing Arts Center. The show was amazing. The girls did such a great job. And we had so many people come to support them and SHS choir program. This show was a fundraiser for the Sheldon High School Choir Program which needs funds desperately and it was very successful. Thank you to everyone who came out.


Here the group is singing for one of the classes on campus. It was so fun because when the group first entered the classroom you could see the look on the students faces was very skeptical and they would say "who are you and what are you doing here" with tons of teenage attitude. You could tell by the looks on their faces that they were thinking this was going to be stupid and they were not going to like it but once the girls started singing the students attitude changed immediately and then they would turn to each and say "wow they are good" and by the end of the song the kids were sold and loved the girls in noteworthy. It was very fun to be able to see the change. And the Noteworthy girls loved it as well this was one of there favorite parts of the whole weekend.


these next couple of pictures are of the NW girls singing at lunch and hanging out with the students. They were dancing and having lots of fun.



This is a picture of Sheldon's principal Ms. Duncan as you can see by the look on her face she loved them as well.




And the next few are of the NW girls giving a workshop for the choir kids. The choir kids loved them and really got into it. Here NW is practcing the song they would sing the choir at the show. Courtney sang the solo. She sang this when she was in high school and part of the vocal ensemble.



This is just a picture of the combined song with the vocal ensemble and noteworthy.




I love this one...one of Noteworthys newest fans.

And this is a picture of two of Noteworthys newest and biggest fans from Sacramento.



Noteoworthy girls are now Huskies forever!

Katie and Ciara after the show giving each other some sisterly loves

Courtney, Kelsey and Catherine driving...yeah they did alot of driving over the weekend



Courtney and Cooley just being silly ....these girls love each other and all get along so well. I find it amazing how well they get along. I mean think about 9 girls spending that much time together would normally mean lots of cat fighting right? Nope not with these girls they truly love each other and it is great to be able to watch them and feel their love.


Here they are being thier usually silly selves.



My favorite.....the "noteworthy tie throw-down" ahhhh so cool.



NotEworthy with some of their fans from the Oakland Youth Conference. They sang for a 16 stake youth conference ....and the youth loved, loved, loved them.



More Noteworthy sillyness. I love how Rachel's hair is standing up in the next picture.

















Grecian Urn---"trickle, trickle, trickle"


And here they are performing before the youth dance. Apoligize-one of my favorite songs.


So, overall it was a great weekend. It went by so fast. Again, I just felt priviliged to be able to hang out with them all weekend. I could feel the spirit so strong while I was around them. And the people they performed for also could feel that spirit. They didn't always know what they were feeling but they knew there was something special about this group. If you missed seeing them you should go check them out on my brother-in-laws website. He took some amazing video of the show. www.jensenweddingvideo.blogspot.com. It sure it sweet to have a family member who is so talented in his field of videography and is so willing to share that with us.