I just read your blog about your experience in Delhi and it does suck. A LOT. But, as Ashray says, some locals wouldn’t join in this type of celebration in certain areas of the city either, let alone if they are women alone. Local women don’t do it either. Of course this is no justification for the sad behavior displayed by some men towards you girls, but I am just mentioning it as a tip for other travelers who might read this. Even if it looks like fun, it’s not necessarily fun for everyone.

On the day of Holi this year, I went outside our apartment complex with the car. The streets were almost deserted in the area we live in (and, oh boy, is that an uncommon sight in Delhi!). All I saw was the occasional group of men on a given corner, playing Holi with each other… no women, no women at all. During Holi, people tend to drink and get high like there’s no tomorrow and that, of course, also helps the kind of behavior that some of the local men displayed with you.

I think sometimes there has to be an adjustment by both sides: locals need to understand that non-Indian female tourists alone are not necessarily “asking for it”, while tourists need to also understand that there are certain instances when they just shouldn’t join in. I wish Holi was all fun and color for everyone, but I know as a matter of fact that things are not so straight forward. You have to play Holi with people you know, in a safe and “protected” environment.

Besides this bitter experience, I hope you keep good experiences from India and hey… if next time you’re in Delhi during Holi and we happen to be around too, let’s just play Holi together!! :)