People throng streets to celebrate Holi in Punjab, Haryana

Chandigarh, Mar 6: Holi was celebrated with gaiety and fervour in Punjab, Haryana and their common capital Chandigarh on Friday as revellers took to streets armed with sprinklers since morning.

Colours of all hues, the smell of'gulal' and joyous spirit pervaded the streets as people celebrated Holi with traditional fanfare and gaiety.

Revellers exchanged greetings with each other to celebrate the festival.

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

'Holi Hai' rent the air as groups of revellers zoomed the streets on motorbikes while youngsters 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.

No major untoward incident was so far reported from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, officials said.

PTI