<p><b>Taylor Sienkiewicz | 15th April, Kathmandu | </b>Following the New Year celebration of the year 2075, crowds of people covered in orange powder, sindhur, marched through the streets of Thimi carrying chariots, beating drums and crashing cymbals.<br></p><p>Most exciting was the chariots flying past as men struggled to keep up with each other. Throughout this, instruments thundered and the powder kept flying up in puffs. </p><p>As a westerner, I was warmly invited to join the festival. I was immediately splattered in the orange colored powder. Even after I was covered head-to-toe, children would ask with a grin to wipe more on my face. Teenagers crashing cymbals asked if I wanted to give it a try.</p><p>The streets were alive with people peering out of every corner where they could get a look at the festivities. People in windows looked down on the crowd marching through the street. Others, including myself, climbed up on stupas to get a better view. Babies and young children sat atop their parents shoulders, who lined the streets, routinely dusted by the powder.</p><p>Beer was passed around despite the morning hour, and everyone seemed to be having a great and festive time. The exciting and colorful nature of the festival had everyone clapping, dancing and smiling—the best way to ring in the New Year.</p><p><img src="http://sajhasabal.com/uploads/posts/cfd1baeacc107bb72a69bba1c4a376401523789723.jpg" style="width: 1000px;"></p><p><img src="http://sajhasabal.com/uploads/posts/273bd4854a3c6da0bf1cfed5a399462d1523789776.jpg" style="width: 1000px;"></p><p><img src="http://sajhasabal.com/uploads/posts/aa6cb7bac4677d325c0974d9bd7479281523789813.jpg" style="width: 1000px;"></p><p><img src="http://sajhasabal.com/uploads/posts/6ab058b3979266d93d08c7030d92a45c1523789853.jpg" style="width: 1000px;"></p><p><img src="http://sajhasabal.com/uploads/posts/2c8ff2476b788ba1800316020e06e3591523789898.jpg" style="width: 1000px;"></p><p><img src="http://sajhasabal.com/uploads/posts/fc25647f088949fabf738b9ec534decc1523789944.jpg" style="width: 1000px;"></p><p><img src="http://sajhasabal.com/uploads/posts/4baf0f2a373d3f946ca73fc01a30ae981523789991.jpg" style="width: 1000px;"></p><p><img src="http://sajhasabal.com/uploads/posts/4405164a4152e32a5bc70605b0341aac1523790041.jpg" style="width: 1000px;"><br></p>
