City immerses itself in colours of happiness

Tribune News Service
Bathinda, March 22

The festival of colours was celebrated by residents of Bathinda with zeal.

Streets wore a vibrant look as a large number of people celebrated the festival with enthusiasm using gulal and colours. All, be they children, youngsters or aged people, applied colours on each other’s face.

There was enthusiasm among youngsters and children, who were seen playing Holi in markets, streets, near houses and public parks.

Groups of young boys and girls were seen roaming in streets celebrating the festival with their faces fully coloured. People visited friends and relatives, gifted ‘gujia’ (a traditional sweet), besides smearing gulal on each other’s foreheads.

Children enjoyed the day most as they sprayed coloured water using water guns and hurled water-filled balloons on people from their rooftops.

Screams of “Holi hai” rent the air as groups of revellers zoomed past the streets on motorbikes while youngsters danced to popular numbers.

A large number of policemen were deployed to combat anti-social elements and prevent drunken brawls. The police made elaborate arrangements to ensure a safe and joyous Holi and stopped those who were trying to create a ruckus.

Despite a heavy deployment of police personnel at various police nakas, groups of motorcycle-borne youngsters were creating a ruckus by removing the silencer of their bikes and letting ear-splitting sound disturb the tranquility and peace of the environment and people.

Many residents stayed away from playing with colours and wished to enjoy the holiday. But they had no option as the markets as well as the malls remained closed till late in the afternoon.

A Lance Naik died while playing Holi after he slipped from the stairs at Beeru Singh Enclave in the cantonment area. He was immediately taken to the military hospital where he was declared dead by the doctors.

Cantt police constable Binder Singh said the deceased had been identified as Shinath (31). The police have registered a case under Section 174 after recording the statement of the victim’s wife Manju Rani. The body had been given to the family members after a postmortem.