Bura na maano holi hai!!

• I LOVE Holi! I love the colours, the gujiya, the fun and the frolicking with family and friends. However I HATE the eve teasing, the fact that every lout on the street seems to equate this festival with license to feel up women at will. And while the police force makes the usual noises about how they are making adequate bandobast to ensure that women on the streets are safe, experience has taught me that self help is usually the best help. So here are a few tips which may help you have a fun AND safe Holi
• Move around in groups: Single women are always viewed as soft targets on Holi so make sure that you always move around in large groups with family and friends
• No is not a dirty word: In fact it's a very useful one to use when you don't want some stranger pawing you with his dirty hands. If you are uncomfortable with strangers or even casual acquaintances with a none too friendly glint their eyes playing holi with you just say no. If they pout there is always that old chesnut (that eve teasers usually use on Holi) to fall back on "Bura na maano Holi hai!"
• At a party be very careful of what you eat or drink: Bhang is often mixed in your pakoras,gujiyas,thandai etc and if you are knocked out or high you are very very vulnerable. Keep a centralised police number in your city (in Delhi it is 100, 011-100 from cell phones ) on speed dial on your cellphones. This has helped me out in a dire emergency on two occasions.
• Carry pepper spray with you: The modern woman's best friend! Just use it responsibly so that you don't end up temporarily blinding a friend by mistake!

Wish you are your families a fantabulous holi. May the holi ke rang truly be the colours of joy.