Holi adds colour to lazy Sunday

Hyderabad: Setting aside the usual laidback attitude on Sundays, many Hyderabadis hit the streets early in the day to revel in Holi celebrations. Despite the confusion on festive celebrations due to different almanac predictions, many people celebrated Holi on Sunday, while others, particularly the north Indian community, plan to celebrate on Monday.

Even as the revelries were on, the traffic police too swung into action to check drunken driving and conducted extensive checks at different areas in the city. At many places, traffic authorities were seen instructing the colour-smeared youngsters, including women, to undergo drunken driving checks.

Cashing in on the craze for Holi revelry, many event management companies organised different programmes at hotels and resorts, especially those in the IT hubs of Gachibowli, Madhapur and city suburbs.

“Holi is the time, when all our school friends get together and celebrate. This time, it was an extended celebration due to Saturday and Sunday holidays,” said Srujan Thota, an engineering student.

For many students, especially those appearing for Intermediate and other examinations, the celebrations were a stress buster. “I decided to celebrate Holi to beat the examination stress,” said D Rishika, a senior intermediate student.

Thanks to the awareness programmes conducted by different non-government organisations, many preferred to use eco-friendly colours over the ones offered by commercial outlets.

In several residential apartments, residents organised music systems in the cellar parking lots and danced to the tunes. Petty vendors offering fancy water guns, balloons and whistles made brisk business. In many areas, youngsters conducted bike rallies and extended Holi wishes to passers-by.

As part of the festival, Holi Poornima and Gaura Poornima celebrations were organised by Hare Krishna Movement at Swayambhu Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Kshetram in Banjara Hills.