Celebrating the full moon in Nasik
Daisy here, blogging for the both of us...
We will be leaving Nasik today and driving on the famous road to Mumbai! Our trip up to Nasik was by train and was in a first class cabin with leather sleepers and air conditioning. Now that they know that I am such a hearty gal, we are driving back on a highway known worldwide as an automotive free for all!
It makes me sad to leave the bunglow at Sula, it has been such a perfect visit. For the last week we have been involved in all aspects of the winery from marketing meetings to tracking through the vineyards. Sula is tucked away next to a large hill covered with feathery tropical trees and two temples. Kerry climbs to the top of the hill followed by the three winery dogs every morning before any one is up and the air is still cool. The dogs now expect this walk and stand outside our window like crowing roosters, barking at 5:30 am. They obviously don't understand English because they keep up the chorus despite our pleas until Kerry puts on his boots and heads out for the hill.
Sula's growing at an amazing clip, 40% growth last year alone. The challenge is educating the local farmers, who are grafting from table grapes, in good wine growing viticultural practices. Kerry has been instrumental in this changing grape culture and the local university is now offering a two year viticultural program. The wines are really good! My favorite is the Sauv. Blanc. Sula has just planted 200 new acres and is contracting with many local farmers for new planting. Nasik is over 2,000 years old as has been an agricultural center for all that time, it will be no time at all until the farmers have mastered growing grapes for wine.
This time of year is called Holli and is a celebration of the new year. It matches up with the first full moon of March and is celebrated by throwing bright colored dye at everyone. Dogs, cows, goats and children walk down the street covered in Magenta and blue. The colors represent the flowers that will soon be in bloom and the passing of the old year, erasing all things negative and forgiving transgressions against neighbors and friends. I tried to get our driver to let me out of the car to jump into the exchange of colors, but he ignored me, probably thinking this crazy American in the white blouse.
Tomorrow Kerry and I are headed to Rajasthan, the land of the maharaja.
We will be leaving Nasik today and driving on the famous road to Mumbai! Our trip up to Nasik was by train and was in a first class cabin with leather sleepers and air conditioning. Now that they know that I am such a hearty gal, we are driving back on a highway known worldwide as an automotive free for all!
It makes me sad to leave the bunglow at Sula, it has been such a perfect visit. For the last week we have been involved in all aspects of the winery from marketing meetings to tracking through the vineyards. Sula is tucked away next to a large hill covered with feathery tropical trees and two temples. Kerry climbs to the top of the hill followed by the three winery dogs every morning before any one is up and the air is still cool. The dogs now expect this walk and stand outside our window like crowing roosters, barking at 5:30 am. They obviously don't understand English because they keep up the chorus despite our pleas until Kerry puts on his boots and heads out for the hill.
Sula's growing at an amazing clip, 40% growth last year alone. The challenge is educating the local farmers, who are grafting from table grapes, in good wine growing viticultural practices. Kerry has been instrumental in this changing grape culture and the local university is now offering a two year viticultural program. The wines are really good! My favorite is the Sauv. Blanc. Sula has just planted 200 new acres and is contracting with many local farmers for new planting. Nasik is over 2,000 years old as has been an agricultural center for all that time, it will be no time at all until the farmers have mastered growing grapes for wine.
This time of year is called Holli and is a celebration of the new year. It matches up with the first full moon of March and is celebrated by throwing bright colored dye at everyone. Dogs, cows, goats and children walk down the street covered in Magenta and blue. The colors represent the flowers that will soon be in bloom and the passing of the old year, erasing all things negative and forgiving transgressions against neighbors and friends. I tried to get our driver to let me out of the car to jump into the exchange of colors, but he ignored me, probably thinking this crazy American in the white blouse.
Tomorrow Kerry and I are headed to Rajasthan, the land of the maharaja.
1 Comments:
The word is "Holi" (also called Holaka or Phagwa) This is an annual festival celebrated on the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna (early March). It celebrates spring, commemorates various events in Hindu mythology and is time of disregarding social norms and indulging in general merrymaking. It is probably the least religious of Hindu holidays. It is a time when man and nature alike throw off the gloom of winter and rejoice in the colors and liveliness of spring. Holi also commemorates various events in Hindu mythology, but for most Hindus it provides a temporary opportunity for Hindus to disregard social norms, indulge in merrymaking and generally "let loose."
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