A quick trawl through Holi in Indian art.

First up, sculpture at the Chennakeshava temple at Belur. A bit of water sport preparation at the feet of the madanika (photograph via Sandeep).

Miniature paintings often feature the ever popular theme of Radha and Krishna playing Holi.  This set is from Kangra, about 1800. A lot of costume details in there from dress to caps to jewellery.  And the predominant spring palette of India, shades of red and yellow.

A continuation of the Kangra tradition by a modern painter.

The theme in early 20th century art:

1. Jamini Roy (above)
2. Abdur Rahman Chughtai (below). There is also a sari inspired by the painting.

Kings at play:

1. Maharana Swarup Singh of Mewar at Holi (1851) (above)
2. Ram Singh of Kotah, 1844 (below)

In photographs:

The festival in 1945 celebrated by a group of Koli girls:

This exercise would last for around twenty days and every day we would go and check if both woods and flowers were drying properly.  A few days before Holi, the dried flowers would be put in sacks and tied. These would be put in very large tubs of water along with some lime and the beautiful colour of Palash would colour the water, ready to be used for Holi. [X]

Pics of palash flowers: Sanjib Ganguly and Jadavpur Lab via AFP.  Along with preparing the powder from the flowers for the coloured water, the wood of the tree would be dried for Holika dahan.

Happy Holi all!