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The day was full of colours and mirth. It was a celebration of colours of life and heart. And none really wanted to miss it as people across the state celebrated Holi, all pomp and gaiety on Saturday.
The dawn broke with a happy note as the Sun shone bright and by 10 am the city roads and open spaces , street corners became filled with youngsters smeared with colours- many of them riding high power bikes with pillions. Citizens of all ages clad mostly in white Kurta Pyjamas also took part exchanging colours and many of them had their good time with their friends. In goala basti and other areas where Bihari population is more, people prepared bhang and danced as they celebrated Holi. The BSF jawans in the border areas also celebrated Holi and exchanged sweets with Border Guards of Bangladesh.
Abir khela, exchange of greetings and sweets with near and dear ones marked the celebration. This year, there was a demand for organic Abir (colours) developed from vegetables and flowers by a women-run Self Help Group (SHG).
In the city, the key attraction was, however, Holi Milan at the official residence of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb.
This is for the first time that any Chief Minister of the state kept the door of his official residence open for all for the celebration irrespective of age, religion and political affiliations. And, people in a large number, specially women, responded to the initiative—they gathered at the Chief Minister’s residence, exchanged greetings and many of them were also seen clicking selfie with the Chief Minister enthusiastically.
Later Deb wrote in a Facebook post, “It is the beauty of our country that all the communities come together to celebrate any festival. The religious identity of a person does not become a hindrance here and we all get coloured in the colour of harmony,” Deb wrote in a social media post.”
Meanwhile, participation of the children in the Holi Milan added more colours to the celebration.
“Holi is a festival of happiness and what can be better than celebrating it with children. Children are always cheerful and wherever they go, they spread positivity in the environment with their smiles. My best wishes and blessings to future nation builders,” the Chief Minister tweeted.
Among the notables, ICA minister Sushanta Chowdhury, MLA Ramapada Jamatia and Mayor of AMC Dipak Majumder joined the festival of colours at the Chief Minister’s residence.
