Amritsar soaks in colours, festive fervour on Holi eve

Colours in the air and a festive spirit gripped the holy city ahead of Holi as devotees made a beeline for the Laxmi Narayan temple in the Durgiana complex and other places of worship to play dry Holi with flowers. On the eve of the festival, an annual kirtan was organised which was followed by a ‘rath yatra’. The famous Pushp Holi (flower Holi) at Durgiana temple uses dry flowers like marigold, tesu, amaltaas and red hibiscus to make natural colours. The devotees applied colours on each other and danced to the tunes of religious bhajans. Children dressed up as ‘Radha’ and ‘Krishna’ participated in the religious procession.

The annual Holi festivities attract tourists, both foreign and domestic, who join in the celebrations. Functions were organised at Bijli Pehalwan Mandir, Maha Kali Temple, Gopal Mandir and others. The ISKCON temple also organised kirtan and festivities, with many enjoying with their families.

Traditional Hola Mohalla celebrations at Golden Temple are also held every year where devotees shower flower petals on the beautifully decorated palanquin, which carries the Sikh holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, to pay obeisance. Though the Hola Mohalla celebrations at Anandpur, the birth place of Khalsa are a much larger event, the festival has now been celebrated at Golden Temple every year for more than two centuries. Devotees from far off places visit the place to attend the annual event.

For those who love sweets on Holi, the quintessential Gujiyas and malpuas have already made their appearance in city. Almost all sweet shops in city are selling gujiya and malpua that are Holi staples. Traditional sweets made from flour, sugar or jaggery and fried till the outer layer turns crispy, these make for exclusive Holi delicacies.

Also in market, especially inside the walled city and around the temple complexes, one can find thandai, a milk and dry fruits-based drink, an exclusive offering of Holi festival. So, the ones who don’t enjoy getting smeared with colours or getting hit by water balloons, can just gulp down that tall, cold delicious glass of thandai and enjoy the hot gujiyas!