Holi sees India erupt into colourful celebrations

New Delhi: Clouds of colour in the air, faces unrecognisable but for big smiles, frenzied dancing, and the sweetest of sweetmeats ... India on Monday immersed itself in Holi — a festival that leaves few untouched, be it young or old, rich or poor, Hindu or Muslim.

Heralding the onset of spring and, like most other festivals embedded in legend, Holi saw common people spill out onto the streets to smear each other with coloured powder and even mud! Some politicians though kept a low key with the festival coming not long after the Pune terror blast and the Kabul terrorist attack that claimed Indian lives.

The neighbourhoods of the capital erupted into celebrations with elders hugging each other and offering sweetmeats to visitors.

Children did what they do best — playing pranks by spraying coloured water and hurling water-filled balloons at passersby from the safety of rooftops and the balconies of their houses.

Youngsters were seen riding motorbikes, throwing colours in the air and chanting ‘Holi hai' even as police patrolled neighbourhoods and main roads to keep miscreants at bay, as the revelry can sometimes turn violent.

Congress party president Sonia Gandhi celebrated the day with schoolchildren at her 10 Janpath residence in the capital. Party sources said there was no fanfare in view of the loss of lives in the February 13 Pune blast and last week's Kabul attack in which nine Indians were killed.

The festival also remained a low-key affair for some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders following the death of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Nanaji Deshmukh. BJP leader L.K. Advani had opted to eschew celebrations on Saturday.

Politicians from Bihar, like Rashtirya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad and chief minister Nitish Kumar, did not celebrate to mourn the suicide of Janata Dal-United legislator Abhay Singh.

In Orissa's Kandhamal district, which was hit by anti-Christian violence two years ago, Christians joined Hindus in celebrations.

"They buried their differences and smeared colour on each other, distributed sweets and danced to drum beats," a police officer said.

In Uttar Pradesh, Hindus and Muslims came together and took out a procession, a Holi Baraat, in the state capital Lucknow to celebrate the festival.

Camels, horses and elephants pulling small, decorated chariots of revellers drew crowds during the procession.

How did you celebrate Holi? What was your most memorable Holi experience? How do traditional festivals connect to the new generations?