As the morning of Holi dawns, people gather in the streets wearing old clothes and proceed to smear coloured powder over each other. Over the years the level of exuberance and celebration has come to include the throwing of eggs and raw tomatoes, fizzing colour mixes that froth and bubble in water, coloured water balloon fights and the new and more recent colour additions of black and silver which resist fading even after bathing. Some households prepare Bhang ki Thandai a cold milk based drink prepared with ground marijuana leaves mixed with almonds and spices, to add to the uninhibited spirit of celebration.
