India celebrates festival of colors

Millions of Indian celebrated Holi – the festival of colors – over the weekend, March 3–4, with top political leaders highlighting the spirit of tolerance that had been the essence of Indian culture and civilization.

"May this year's festival strengthen fraternal bonds amongst our people and bring peace and prosperity to our nation," President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, said in his greetings. The Indian President celebrated Holi with a large number of children – school students, specially–abled children, orphans and those suffering from thalassaemia – who flocked to the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday.

In his characteristic style, Dr. Kalam told the children a set of things to do on Holi and asked them to remain happy and spread joy around.

"There are five things I would like all of you to do on 'Holi' day. Give flowers to the sick, visit a hospital and give sweets to the inmates, help a visually impaired person cross the road and listen and understand their problem, call and talk to a person you have not met in a long time and finally, take a decision to always smile," he said.

The children performed a Holi dance and sang songs from various films, a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesman said.

Dr. Kalam gave them greeting cards which had pictures of flowers in red and blue and a poem penned by him: "We blossomed together. To give you fragrance on this beautiful Holi Day."

"The festival of colors not only spreads cheer in our lives but also goes a long way to strengthen bonds amongst the people," said Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, expressing hope that the change of season would usher in a new hope for a brighter future and a new resolve to forge ahead as a nation.

Unlike the President, Prime Minister Dr. Singh avoided the festivities and did not play Holi. UNI quoted a spokesman in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) as saying that Dr. Singh did not play Holi and he did not assign any reason for that.

The official, however, said that the Prime Minister had a Holi Milan (Holi gathering) at his residence at 7 Race Course Road on Saturday evening where he was greeted by his Cabinet ministers and other top officials.

Congress party president Ms. Sonia Gandhi also greeted the citizens on the occasion of Holi. "Let this festival of colour bring peace, joy and prosperity among our people," she said, urging the people of India to overcome religious and cultural divides and live in harmony.

Holi, a festival that signifies unity in diversity, was celebrated days after two powerful bombs ripped apart two compartments of India–Pakistan trans–border 'friendship train' the Samjhauta Express, killing at least 70 people, mainly Pakistani nationals.

The suspected terrorist bombing, February 19, said to be triggered by improvised explosive devices (IED), was clearly aimed at undermining the peace process between the nuclear–armed rival nations.