Ashwini Bhide

March 3, 6.30 PM: What do you associate Holi with? Colours, bhaang and afternoons spent lolling around in a post-bhaang daze? Why not add some more culture to the festival? This Friday, renowned Hindustani music vocalist Ashwini Bhide Deshpande of the Jaipur-Atrauli Khayal Gayaki tradition, presents an evening of compositions on Holi. The festival marks the transitioning of the seasons from winter to summer. "It's a pleasant time and is equated with a bloom in the youth of all species. It's a season of ched-chaad full of gaiety and people get away with a 'bura na maano Holi hai'," says Bhide, who was groomed by veterans like Narayanrao Datar, and her mother Manik Bhide.