No saffron, no green as country celebrates Holi

New Delhi, March 6

Advertisement

Leaders across the political spectrum took a break from the colourful Budget session, which is ongoing in Parliament, as they celebrated Holi with great gusto.

Union Defence Minister and former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar celebrated the festival of colours in Panaji with his family.

“Holi represents India: all colours come together on this festival, just like they do in our nation,” Parrikar told ANI.

AAP leader Kumar Vishwas celebrated the festival in Kaushambi with his family and friends with great gusto. While playing Holi, he sang a popular Bollywood tune, to the amusement of those present.

“A lot of AAP leaders have come here to celebrate Holi with me. Today all of us have only one colour – that of the Tricolour,” Vishwas said.

Vishwas, who also celebrated Holi with under-fire party member Yogendra Yadav, remarked that the latter was polite and an expert at putting across his point. Both leaders kept aside the political matters and applied colours on each other.

“We have to learn from Yogendra Bhai on how a politician should put across his point in a polite manner. We will go to Prashant Bhushan's place also,” Vishawas said.

Yadav on his part avoided commenting on the internal rift within AAP and urged the media to celebrate the festival.

People miss Lalu

In Patna, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was not celebrating Holi following the death of former chief minister and senior JD-U leader Ram Sundar Das.

He, however, greeted citizens of the state and appealed to them to celebrate it in the spirit of love and brotherhood.

On the other hand, hundreds of people in Bihar were disappointed as they missed Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad's trademark 'kapdaphaar' (clothe-tearing) Holi this year.

People are missing Lalu's Holi as he is in Delhi, an RJD leader said.

Delhi damper

Breathalyzer tests were being conducted across National Capital New Delhi and adjoining areas by the city police on drivers out in the streets celebrating the festival of colours.

Police in the Laxmi Nagar, Prithivaraj Road and Vasant Vihar areas of the city said breathalyser tests were being carried out to prevent drivers from driving their vehicles when in an intoxicated state.

People throng streets in Punjab, Haryana

Holi was celebrated with gaiety and fervour in Punjab, Haryana and their common capital Chandigarh as revellers took to streets armed with sprinklers since morning.

People visited friends and relatives, gifted 'gujia' (a traditional sweet) besides smearing 'gulal' (colour powder) on each other's faces.

Cries of 'Holi Hai' rent the air as groups of revellers zoomed on motorbikes while many danced to popular numbers and children armed with 'pichkaris' chased each other and hurled water-filled balloons on people from rooftops.

Police personnel were deployed across the twin states and Chandigarh to keep a watch on anti-social elements.

Holi on twitter

Leaders of parties across the political spectrum took to twitter to wish the nation on the occasion of Holi.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh posted a video message on twitter, where he wished the people of the country a happy Holi.

The official twitter account of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also extended Holi greetings.

“Holika's fire blazes amid fun and gaiety. Love, devotion and faith overpowers the evil. Happy Holi to everyone,” he wrote.

RJD president and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav posted a Holi greeting in Hindi.

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee posted a picture of two ‘pichkaris' along with her greetings.

“Colour your life with joy... Wishing you a very Happy Holi,” she wrote.