Festival Of Colors ‘Holi’ Celebrated With Joyous Spirit Across India: Report

New Delhi, March 18, IRNA – Festival of colours ‘Holi’ was celebrated on Monday with joyous spirit across India. However, festivities marred incidents in which around twenty people drowned in rivers and canal while bathing after playing holi. From morning till noon, thousands took to the streets with ˈgulalˈ and water sprinklers, splashed colours on each other and exchanged sweets as a mark of bonhomie, across the country. Water-filled balloons were hurtled down from rooftops and balconies as cries of ˈHoli haiˈ reverberated the streets. The enthusiasm of the people reaches its peak and matches with the nature which is in full bounty at the time of Holi. Children particularly enjoy the festival as they throw water filled balloons at passersby...and if anybody stares..they have ready answer, ˈBura na mano Holi hai..ˈ and evoke a smile on the irritated face. Besides, they have their water missiles, called pichkaris to drench the person from far and escape further drenching. However, passing on a message not to waste water in the festival of colours, Bollywood hearthrob Purab Kohli today led a Holi event in Kolkata, capital city of West Bengal state. Kohli played with fans and revellers using skin-friendly gulaal, at PC Chandra Gardens here, where the ˈRangotsavˈ was organised. The organisers said by focusing on having fun with gulaal they want to show how Holi can be played without wasting tankers of water. ˈWe are heading towards summer when many states face drought, so we wanted to send a message that Holi is about colours and not wasting water,ˈ said Rahul Madhigaria of Buzz 365 Entertainments. In the midst of these colouring games are savoured the mouth watering holi specialities like gujiya and malpuas downed with glasses full of thandai. And after a wild and eventful day, evening celebrated in a dignified manner by visiting friends and relatives. People exchanged sweets and hug each other conveying the warm wishes for Holi. These days there people also participate and organise Holi Meets and enjoy the festival till late in the night. Elaborate security arrangements were made to avoid any untoward incidents. Holi celebrations that starts with the burning of Holika on the eve of Holi thus culminates with the lot of funfilled activity and bonhomie. However, at some places specially Mathura and Barsana Holi celebrations continue for a week as each major temple organise a Holi bash on different day. Lovers of the festival enjoy every moment to the hilt. In some states there is also a tradition of breaking the pot full of buttermilk which is hung high on the streets. A group of boys form a human pyramid and one of them break the pot. All this while womenfolk throw buckets of colour water on them and sing folk songs. Meanwhile, President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Vice President, Mohd Hamid Aansari have greeted people on the occasion of Holi, saying the festival provided an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of unity and friendship. Taking a break from politics in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections, political leaders cutting across party lines today joined the nation to celebrate Holi. However, festivities marred incidents in which around twenty people drowned in rivers and canals in different places, while bathing after playing holi. In national capital Delhi, five youths drowned in Yamuna river when they were taking a bath after playing Holi in north Delhiˈs Sonia Vihar. Meanwhile, at least twelve persons drowned and seven others were missing while bathing in separate places in Odisha state during Holi. While two men, brothers, drowned in Manjeera river at Yedupayala village under Papannapet police station limits in Medak district in Andhra Pradesh state, this evening. The festival is celebrated to commemorate the Hindu mythological tale of Prahlada emerging unscathed from the flames despite being drawn into the fire by demoness Holika. The Hindu month of ˈPhagunˈ ended yesterday with ˈHolika Dahanˈ and ˈChaitaˈ starting today. The festival date varies every year, per the Hindu Calendar, and typically comes in March, sometimes February in the Georgian Calendar. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter. ‘Holi’ is being celebrated in India since time immemorial but the popularity of Holi celebrations seems to be rising with every passing year./end