Slideshow: Holi 2010 at Oyster Creek Park in Sugar Land, TX.

I love Flickr – for lots of reasons. I can always find images for inspiration. I can learn from other enthusiasts. I can find out about and take part in all kinds of cool events!

I had never heard of Holi, the festival of colors celebrated by Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and others, before a post in the discussion area of Assignment Houston.

Houston has a large Indian community and they have put on a big Holi celebration for the past three years. I went for the first time and met up with a few of the other photographers from Flickr and it was the most amazing celebration I’ve been to. Besides having beautiful spring weather, the atmosphere was charged with fun and excitement. The smells from the festival food and the music for the stage performers filled the air.

But it was the “Color Zone” where the most fun took place. Here, with the powders and paints in bright shades of pink, magenta, purple, red, yellow and green, nobody remains in their original color and everybody takes delight in looking at each other and being seen.

The thing I like most about this festival is that everyone from all social classes and religious sects come together in brotherhood to celebrate the arrival of spring. Too bad more of the world doesn’t know about Holi.

You can lean more about Holi Festival by clicking here and i’ve put up a slideshow of my images of Holi 2010 at Oyster Creek Park in Sugar Land, TX . You can also see them in the gallery on the galleries page. If you have the opportunity to attend this festival in your community, you shouldn’t miss it.

Holi Hai!