In Pics: Nation celebrates Holi, leaders greet people

Bangalore, March 27: While Holi is one of the most anticipated festivals, this years, many have decided to back off from playing with colours owing to the shortage of water. While a vigouress campaign is on in Maharashtra about conserving water this Holi, other states are not far behind in following the same.

Meanwhile, Holi wishes have been pouring in. In his Holi greetings to the nation, Chief Minister Narendra Modi wants the nation to uphold honour and dignity of women. In his message to the Holi revellers, Modi stressed the need to uphold the honour and dignity of women that will enable them to keep their heads held high in the world.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi greeted people on Holi and expressed hope that the festival of colours will strengthen faith in national values and promote oneness and harmony.

"On the joyous occasion of Holi, I convey my greetings and good wishes to all my fellow countrymen. This festival which marks the advent of spring, is a harbinger of joy, hope and fulfilment for all," the President said in his greetings.In Delhi, joyous spirit pervaded the streets as people celebrated with gulal and colours. People visited friends and relatives, gifted gujia (a traditional sweet) besides smearing gulal on each other's faces. Children enjoyed the most as they sprayed colour using water guns and hurled water-filled balloons at people from rooftops.

Police personnel were deployed across the city and the administration had aired warning against hooliganism in the guise of celebration.

In Ujjain, priests carried out Bhasmaarti at the Mahakaleshwar temple by offering flowers and holy ashes on the Shiva lingam.

Reports of revelry also reached from Kolkata, Mumbai, Bhopal, Lucknow, Jaipur, Hyderabad and other parts of the nation.

Three killed in Andhra during Holi celebrations

Three people were killed in separate incidents during Holi celebrations in Andhra Pradeh on Wednesday, police siad.

A youth drowned in a well in IDL area in Kukatpally here after he had gone take a bath after celebrating Holi, police said.

A six-year-old boy also drowned in a water tank near Koyalagudem in Choutuppal mandal of Nalgonda district while taking bath after playing Holi.

In the third incident, a youth was knocked down by a truck while playing Holi in Adigoppala in Durgi mandal of Guntur district.

In Kadapa district, a five-year-old boy accidentally fell into a borewell while playing Holi with friends. He was later rescued by villagers. The incident took place in Kumarampalli in Vempalli mandal.

Nation Celebrates Holi

Senior BJP leader LK Advani with his wife Kamla Advani celebrates Holi at his residence in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

A man reacts while celebrating 'Holi', the festival of colours,in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

Visitors from different religion greet Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as he celebrates Holi at his residence in Patna on Wednesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

The festivities of Holi are continuing in Srinagar as family members of BSF officers celebrate the festival of colours at a base camp Hamhama on the outskirts of Srinagar on Wednesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

Students of Visva-Bharati University celebrating ‘Basant Utsav' to mark 'Holi' (festival of colour) at Santiniketan in Birbhum district of West Bengal on Wednesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

Youths celebrates festival of colors, Holi in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

Youth playing with colour on the occasion of holi the festival of Colour, in Guwahati on Wednesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

Foreigner tourists playing with color during Holi festival celebration in Jaipur on Wednesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

Border Security Force men and women play Holi colors at Attari/Wagha Border post near Amritsar on Wednesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

People celebrate "Holi ‘ in Thane on Wednesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

Lok Janshakti Party president and Rajya Sabha MP Ram Vilas Paswan's son and bollywood actor Chirag Paswan celebrating 'Holi', at his residence in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit celebrating 'Holi', the festival of colours,in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

A woman reacts while celebrating 'Holi', the festival of colours,in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

Transliterated Laxmi Narayan Tripathi celebrate "Holi ‘ in Thane on Wednesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

Foreign tourists take part in Tug-of-War during Holi Festival in Jaipur on Tuesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

People celebrate Holi in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

Devotees apply colour and participate in religious procession at Durgiayana Temple during the celebration of "Holi ‘ at Amritsar on Wednesday.

Nation Celebrates Holi

People raise their hands amid a cloud of colored powder during Holi celebrations festival in Allahabad on Wednesday.

Nation celebrates Holi

Border Security Force personnel dance after daubing each other with coloured powder as they celebrate Holi festival at a camp along the border with Bangladesh near Agartala on Wednesday.

Nation celebrates Holi

BJP National President, Rajnath Singh celebrating Holi festival at his residence in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Nation celebrates Holi

A young girl dances whiile celebrating 'Holi', the festival of colours,in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Nation celebrates Holi

BSF women constable and Jawan's celebrate "Holi at Indo-Pak Attari/Wagha on Wednesday.

Nation celebrates Holi

Tourists celebrate festival of colors, Holi at Juhu in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Nation celebrates Holi

Thar' Folk Danceres from Balotra Rajasthan Perform Dance during Holi celebration of Dhuleti Festival in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

Nation celebrates Holi

Actress Shabana Azmi with husband lyricist Javed Akhtar celebrates festival of colors, Holi at Juhu resident in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Nation celebrates Holi

People play with colours during the Holi celebration in Gurgaon on Wednesday.

Nation celebrates Holi

A Hindu priest throws colored powder on devotees celebrating Holi, the festival of colors, as they crowd at the Swaminarayan temple in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.