O - Holi ? the festival of colours -19/3/2003.

Holi - the festival of colours -19/3/2003.

A bright and sunny morning. Today is Holi, the festival of colours,
celebrated all over India.

Every year Holi is celebrated in the month of March, the date
corresponding with the Indian almanac. This day reminds people that the
spring season is over and the summer days are on its way. The first
green mangoes are offered to God.

The morning becomes so colourful with the riot of colours. The colours
are special for the occasion that can be found in the form of powder,
which can also be diluted in water. Children like to play with the
coloured water while the elders prefer the coloured powder. The colours
are of different shades as found in a rainbow. These colours are made
from natural ingredients, so it is not harmful to the skin.

People of different caste, creed and religion enjoy this colourful
festival. People forgive and forget old differences and make way for
friendship and better understanding.

Rosgollas, gulabjamuns, pedas, laddoos, jalebis, and other sweets are
served to all those who visit friends and relatives.

From the morning till noon people enjoy playing with the colours and
then spend a lot of time to wash out the colours from their skin. This
day is a national holiday. This celebration and playing with colours
may seem so peculiar to the people living in other parts of the world
other than India but for every Indian, he/she will look forward for
Holi to come again, waiting eagerly for another long year.