New Delhi: Colours ruled the streets on Monday as people of all ages with faces and clothes smeared in myriad of hues celebrated Holi, a harvest festival which marks the onset of spring season.
From youngsters and the elderly to the widows of Vrindavan, the ‘gulal’ spared none as revellers danced to the accompaniment of drums.
People exchanged sweets as a mark of bonhomie. 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.
A relatively warm day paved way for a perfect Holi, as coloured water drenched people inside and outside homes, bidding adieu to winter. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh have greeted people on the occasion of Holi, saying the festival provided an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of unity and friendship.
The Prime Minister on Sunday celebrated the festival with his staff for the first time during his tenure in UPA-II. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi joined the celebrations at her residence here.
Tight security arrangements were also put in place and hospitals made arrangements to deal with any extra rush of people. In Rajasthan, the festival was celebrated peacefully and no untoward incident took place. In the national capital, police personnel were deployed across the city. Police had issued warning against hooliganism in the guise of revelry. Commuters faced inconvenience in the morning as a handful of buses plied and Metro service resumed only after 2 PM. (PTI)