Rain, cold wave fail to dampen festive spirit

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 5

Despite rain and cold wave conditions, Holi, the festival of colours, was celebrated with enthusiasm in the city today.

People visited friends and relatives, presented sweets and applied colours on each other's faces.

“Rains spoiled some fun, but still we celebrated the festival with friends and relatives. Every year we organise party on the day,” said Sunil Sharma, a university student.

Several social organisations also celebrated the festival. Educational institutions had organised events for celebrating the festival on March 4 keeping in view the holiday on Thursday.

Workers of the Jammu unit of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) organised a function to celebrate Holi at its district office in Kacchi Chawani. Senior party leaders Vikram Singh, Girish Sharma, Chaman Angral, Gourav Sharma, Pawan Kumar, Vinod Kumar, Parth Sharma, Jagdeep Singh, Vishavjit Singh, Suksham Mahajan and Jatin Choudhary and a large number of party activists danced to the beats of drum amid sprinkling colours of the festival, exchanging greetings and distributing sweets in front of the office.

The Bhartiya Lok Sangeet Kala Sansthan in coordination with Unison Cultural Troupe and Sangam True Art Production celebrated Holi at the open-air theatre, Durga Bhawan, Janipur, here today.

The programme was inaugurated by VK Magotra, former Regional Director, Directorate of Field Publicity.

The function commenced with a song, “Ho mubarik manjri phoolaon bhari”, sung by renowned artistes Usha Handoo, Raju Bajgal, Rajni Gupta, Bodh Raj, Zulekha Farid, MC Kotwal, Hem Raj and KK Joshi.

Holi dances “Khari Holi” and “Ras” and women Holi dances with Radha and Krishan were presented by students of the music institute.

Earlier, ML Dogra, former Regional Director, Song and Drama Division, Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and chairman of the Bhartiya Lok Sangeet Kala Sansthan delivered welcome address.

Those who performed in the function included Usha Handoo, Raju Bajgal, Sant Das, Bodh Raj, KK Joshi, Rajni Gupta, Neelam Gandotra, Kamli Devi, Hem Raj, Shivani Disgotra, Deevam Jandiyal, Rakshit Sharma, Dhruv Pandit, Pooja Loach, Chahat Chadha, Simran, Samarth Gupta, Sanam Gupta, Bhuwan Pandit, Abhyud, Ruksana Kousar, Raj Veer, Rakesh Katoch, Ganshyam Yadav, Anantika Sharma L-Danika, Bhumika Chib, Neelam Chib, Ayush Bhat, Manju Badyal, Sonia Badyal, Sunil Badyal, Sabha Majid, Rohie Khan, Rabia Salaria, Akhil Salalia, Yog Raj, Sunil Kumar, Mohammad Afroz and Deepak Kumar.