Fun and fanfare mark Holi, festivities peaceful in Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur, March 9: There was a riot of colours on Jamshedpur streets on Wednesday as the old and young joined hands to celebrate Holi, which marks the beginning of spring. Amidst stray cases of violence in the city the festival of colours Holi was celebrated peacefully.

Revellers splashed colours on each other as they exchanged embraces across the lanes and by-lanes in the city to celebrate the festival of colours.

Children had most of the fun as they sprayed coloured water using water guns and hurled water-filled balloons on people from the safety of their rooftops.

In the city, no untoward incident was reported from anywhere.

The young and the old splashed colours on each other with religious songs in the background adding to the perfect ambience in several areas. 

Effigies of Holika, the sister of Hiranyakashyap, the demon kings were set ablaze at several places symbolising the destruction of evil.

Nevertheless, the security alertness on the day that is on the day of Holi, was moderate with no special arrangement for traffic movement and people had easy access to their destinations.

However, patrolling of the police vans at a higher pace was the only highlight of the administration as far as security measures for the Holi were concerned.

“Past record suggest that Holi has never been a festival inviting trouble to the district administration so far, and therefore security has never been a big concern for the police barring of course, the petty incidents of brawl involving people in drunken state of mind,” said an official.

The police had issued warning against hooliganism in the guise of revelry. Commuters faced inconveniences in the morning as the public transport, such as buses, were shut till late afternoon.

The streets presented a riot of colours with revellers, dancing to the accompaniment of drums, thronging lanes and bylanes to celebrate Holi which passed off peacefully across the city.

Notwithstanding the security arrangements the police have registered a few incidents of clashes between the excited Holi enjoyers in Kadma, Sonari and Chota Govindpur police stations.

Forgetting all rancour and old grievances, people from all walks of life exchanged embraces wishing “Happy Holi” as unseen hands squirted them with a well-timed coloured water spray.

The spirit of jollity reigned supreme as politicians and commoners mingled with each other on the occasion. 

Water-filled balloons were hurtled down from rooftops and balconies as cries of “Holi hai” reverberated the streets.

Musical soirees were held at many places to mark the festival which bids adieu to winter and heralds the spring season.