Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c25.s1.110

v2.c25.s1.110

A festival which was as noteworthy as the one described above was that called the Hōḷi.³ Nicolo dei Conti witnessed this celebration. He gives us a brief account of it. "There are also three other festival days, during which they sprinkle all passers-by, even the king and queen themselves, with saffron-water, placed for that purpose by the way-side. This is received by all with much laughter."⁴ One of the carvings in the ruins of the capital illustrates this in an interesting manner.