armed locals, and in a frenzy.

Pushkar, 15-03-1995. The last couple of nights I`ve been watching these groups of young local males dancing around in circles every night. The percusionist with a big drum in the middle of the group banging away at his drum like there is no tomorrow while his mates dance around him armed with two wooden sticks. They work themselves into a frency banging their sticks together on the rythm of the drum wallahs percusion, it is hopelessy out of tune but who cares.....? They beat their sticks against those of the guy in front and behind. I`ve no idea about the meaning of this weird phenomenon. Never seen it before in this strange and chaotic country but here in holy Pushkar they have been doing this every night and at several places around the village for the past two weeks or so. Naturally the sight of a lot of locals armed with two sticks each and in a mental frenzy is not a secure feeling in my opinion!!! Wonder if it might have anything to do with the festival of Holi that is a-coming soon.