Holi 2022: The festival sees millions across the country hurl coloured powder at each other
Colourful festivities to mark Holi are underway, unburdened by coronavirus fears for the first time in three years. The spring festival sees millions across the country hurl coloured powder at each other in a kaleidoscopic celebration of the end of winter.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday greeted people on the occasion of Holi and wished that the festival brings every colour of happiness in the their lives.
"Wishing you all a very Happy Holi. May this festival of colours, which is a symbol of mutual love, affection and brotherhood, bring every colour of happiness in your life," PM Modi said in a tweet in Hindi.
"Hearty congratulations and best wishes to all the countrymen on the auspicious occasion of Holi. Holi, the festival of colours, is a living example of social harmony and togetherness. It marks the onset of the spring season. I wish that this festival infuses joy, enthusiasm and new energy into the lives of all the countrymen," the President Kovind said.
Several Union ministers, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, also greeted people on Holi.
Here are the Highlights on Holi 2022:
Australian PM greets people with special Holi messageAustralian Prime Minister Scott Morrison greeted the Indian Australian community on the occasion of Holi on Friday and said the celebration of the festival evokes a spirit of unity and friendship.
In a message, he also thanked the community for showing love and care for all Australians. "We are the most successful multicultural and multi-faith nation on Earth -- a beacon that shows what it means to be a liberal, free and democratic people," PM Morrison said.
"This is especially so for Holi -- one of the most important and vibrant events for Indian Australians. This ancient Festival of Colours gathers people together for a joyous celebration," he added.
The Australian prime minister said the Holi holds even more meaning this year. "As we reach the end of a second pandemic year, we can be thankful for the many things that have sustained us, our family, our community, and our faith," he said.
Gujarat: School children celebrate eco-friendly Holi with wasted flowers of temple In a unique style of celebration, school children in Vadodara celebrated an eco-friendly Holi with wasted flowers of the temple.
Prince Ashokraje Gaekwad School in Gujarat arranged the celebration of Holi for the children on the school campus. The kids splashed flowers, hopped and danced as part of the Holi celebrations. The school administration said that it ensured an eco-friendly celebration to give a message to the entire world to avoid chemical colours and celebrate an eco-friendly and safe festival.
Speaking to ANI, Tushar Bhosle, Administrator of the school said, "The celebration was organised keeping the eco-friendly theme to give a message to the world that we must celebrate eco-friendly festivals. We reused the flowers from the temple for the celebration and made sure that no chemical colours were used. The Abir-Gulal, we used, was also eco-friendly."
Vice President Naidu celebrates Holi with school children at his residenceVice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday celebrated Holi with school children and Secretariat staff at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas, the Vice President's Secretariat said.
Children from four Delhi schools, including those run by MCD, visited the Vice President's residence and greeted him on the occasion of Holi, the release said.
The Vice President was delighted when the enthusiastic children recited patriotic poems.
Nation celebrates Holi, Shab-e-Barat same day, this is beauty of India: Union MinisterAs the country celebrates Holi and Shab-e-Barat on Friday, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that this is the beauty of our country that the people celebrate all festivals.
"This is Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. Today is Shab-e-Barat also, the beauty of our country is that we celebrate all festivals," Mr Naqvi told ANI while he was playing colours at his residence in Prayagraj.
Shab-e-Barat, which is also known as the "night of forgiveness," is observed between the 14th and 15th night of the Sha'aban, the eighth month in the Islamic Calendar. This year, the celebration of this auspicious Muslim festival will commence on the evening of March 18 and end on the evening of March 19.
Delhi police chief motivates staff for performing duties away from families on HoliDelhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana on Friday visited several duty points in the national capital and exchanged pleasantries with staff deployed for security arrangements for Holi celebrations across the city.
He said Delhi police have made security arrangements in communally sensitive areas to maintain law and order in the national capital on this festival of colours.
"We have made security arrangements amid Holi and Shab-e-Barat and also deployed more personnel in communally sensitive areas with mixed populations," Mr Asthana told media persons.
"Holi Holds Even More Meaning This Year": Australian PM's MessageAustralian Prime Minister Scott Morrison wished the Indian Australian community on the occasion of Holi today and thanked them for their love and care to all Australians.
"Holi holds even more meaning this year. As we reach the end of a 2nd pandemic year, we can be thankful for the many things that have sustained us -our family, community and faith. I want to thank the Indian Australian community for the love and care you have shown, not only to your own families, but to all Australians," Mr Morrison said in a statement.
After 2 years of subdued festivities, Holi celebrated with fervour across Punjab, HaryanaAfter two years of muted festivities, Holi was celebrated across Punjab, Haryana and their common capital Chandigarh on Friday with much gaiety as revellers stepped out of their homes with 'pichkaris' and 'gulal' amid a decline in Covid cases.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann greeted people on Holi and hoped that the festival of colours, unity and harmony brings happiness and peace in everyone's life.
Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar also extended his greetings to the people on the occasion.
BJP chief celebrates Holi with party workers in DelhiBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Jagat Prakash Nadda on Friday celebrated Holi with party workers at his residence in New Delhi.
Earlier, extending his wishes to people, Nadda said, "May the colors of Holi bring happiness and prosperity in your life. With this wish, I wish all the countrymen a very happy festival of colours."
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minorities Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also celebrated the festival of colours with party workers and supporters.
Holi 2022: Dhuleti' celebrated across GujaratCommon citizens as well as political leaders and ministers celebrated Holi, called Dhuleti in Gujarat, with great zeal and enthusiasm across the state on Friday.
The festival of colours saw a different scale of celebrations this year in the backdrop of a significant drop in coronavirus cases, which encouraged people to step out of their homes without much fear and mingle with each other.
This was in a sharp contrast to 2021 when COVID-19 cases were soaring ahead of Holi, leading the state government to ban public celebrations and mass functions on Dhuleti. The COVID-19 outbreak had dampened Holi festivities in 2020, too.
"Gold": Mumbai Police's "Holi-cinate" Post Leaves Internet In SplitsThe Mumbai Police on Friday advised people the play Holi safely and be in their senses. They have warned that people who do not pay attention to the message will be caught "red-handed".
"Play with colors, not imagine them! We will catch you 'red-handed' otherwise," the Mumbai Police posted on Instagram and its other social media handles.
On Holi, Congress' Harish Rawat tries his hands at playing 'dholak'Holi celebrations for veteran Congress leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat began with gusto on Friday as he tried his hands at playing 'dholak' at a 'Holi Milan' event in Raipur, Dehradun.
Mr Rawat, while sitting on a chair, joyously beat the dholak as people gathered around him. He shared the video on Twitter.
Holi 2022: Bengal celebrates colourful 'Dol Jatra'
West Bengal on Friday celebrated Dol Jatra with great fervour leaving behind the aloofness due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
People from all age groups came out in the streets in large numbers and smeared 'gulal' or 'aabir' on each other. Children cheerfully sprinkled coloured water on the passers-by, which they greeted with affection.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to social media to greet people on the occasion.
"Heartiest Dol Jatra greetings to all. May the majestic festival of diverse colours bring happiness, peace, joy and prosperity in all of us. May the spirit of diversity, amity and equality inspire us," she tweeted.
Holi in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore
BJP chief celebrates Holi in Delhi
Holi 2022: Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, other political leaders extend Holi wishes to nation
Political leaders across parties on Friday greeted people on the occasion of Holi. Union Home minister Amit Shah extended Holi greetings and wished for happiness, peace, good fortune, and new energy in everyone's life.
"May this great festival of colours, joy and happiness infuse happiness, peace, good fortune and new energy in everyone's life," he tweeted.
"Symbol Of Love, Affection And Brotherhood": President, PM Tweet Holi WishesPresident Ram Nath Kovind wished "enthusiasm and new energy in the lives of all the countrymen" while Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished for "mutual love, affection and brotherhood" among the people as the two leaders greeted people on the occasion of Holi today.
The festival of colours is a living example of social harmony and togetherness, President Kovind said.
"Holi, the festival of colours, is a living example of community harmony and reconciliation. It brings good news of the arrival of spring. I wish that this festival infuses joy, enthusiasm and new energy in the lives of all the countrymen," President Kovind said in a tweet in Hindi.
"Holi Holds Even More Meaning This Year": Australian PM's MessageAustralian Prime Minister Scott Morrison wished the Indian Australian community on the occasion of Holi today and thanked them for their love and care to all Australians.
"Holi holds even more meaning this year. As we reach the end of a 2nd pandemic year, we can be thankful for the many things that have sustained us -our family, community and faith. I want to thank the Indian Australian community for the love and care you have shown, not only to your own families, but to all Australians," Mr Morrison said in a statement.