Thaindian News

Vrindavan/Mumbai/Varanasi, Mar. 20 (ANI): Holi, the festival of colours, was celebrated across the country on Sunday and on Saturday with the usual gaiety, fevour and tradition associated with it.

In Vrindavan, devotees gathered at the Radha Ballabh Temple and smeared themselves with coloured powder. They also sang and swayed to traditional hymns.

Mohit Goswami, the temple priest, said the traditional ritual of playing with colours made with flowers was the best way to observe the festival.

“The traditional way is to use colours made out of Tesu flower to play Holi with water guns. These days people are following new methods, but traditionally, colours are not used after the burning of Holi in any temple. Today, people are doing as they wish and it is not right,” said Goswami.

In Mumbai, residents erected giant effigies to mark Holi celebrations.

Special theme-based effigies symbolizing current issues affecting the Indian democracy were highlighted on the occasion.

“There is a lot of corruption lately in the democracy; if we read the papers in the morning it is full of reports of grafts and scams worth billions. So, this evil called corruption, is having a bad effect on the common man,” said Chandrakant Awaghde, an event organiser.

In Varanasi, a group of artists from England were seen celebrating Holi.

Tourists splashed each other with colour and danced merrily to Bollywood film music.

“I think this is a very interesting festival with lots of colour and happiness, it happens to be a very exciting time really; yes it is Holi, I believe it is quite fun and enjoyable,” said British tourist David Goose. (ANI)