ID :
359251
Fri, 03/06/2015 - 04:50
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Indian Leaders Offer Their Greetings For Holi Festival

By M.Santhiran NEW DELHI, March 6 (Bernama) -- Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Indians in conjunction with the Holi festival celebrated across the nation on Friday. The spring Holi festival is considered one of the most colourful and much revered celebrations in India’s long list of festivals, where people from all walks of life part-take in celebrations. "May this festival of colours promote oneness and harmony as well as bring happiness, good health and prosperity to all," said Mukherjee who hoped the festival would spread the fame and fragrance of the composite culture of the country, far and wide. Meanwhile, Modi said the festival of colours fill Indian lives with lots of joy. It is a public holiday in India and a major festival after Diwali or better known as Deepavali. The festival, celebrated grandly in the northern states, has even become popular among non-Hindus, lately. The day begins with “holika” bonfire early in the morning where people gather to sing and dance. Well-wishers celebrate by splashing coloured water and dry powder on friends and family members, which now has taken a serious commercial aspect where shops are filled with all kinds of paraphernalia, from plastic guns to pumps, used during the day-long celebration. The main celebration is at the Banke Bihari Temple, Birandavan near Matura, about 150km from the capital, where thousands of people throng every year to witness the traditional festival. Security around the city was however, beefed-up, especially at local markets where people rush to do their last minute shopping. Local sweet shops enjoy brisk business due to high demand during the festival and shopping malls join in by promoting special sales. -- BERNAMA

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