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It's Holi-day time in India

         Bijnore (UP) / Amritsar (Punjab): Holi celebration, which promotes communal harmony, has begun across India. Hindu girls were joined by their Muslim friends as they celebrated the festival in Bijnore. The girls smeared each other's faces with colours and danced to the music of bonhomie. "We really enjoy Holi every much. We celebrate it together. Hindu girls celebrate Eid with us and I celebrate Holi and Diwali with them," said Parveen, a Muslim girl. In Amritsar, hundreds of Hindus thronged a temple to celebrate Holi, with processions led by a couple dressed as Lord Krishna. "We are so glad that we are dancing as Radha and Krishna. We are drenched in the colours of Holi," said Kamlesh Nanda, the artiste dressed as Krishna. Devotees said they were amazed to see such a riot of colours in the temple premises. "We never expected to see such a riot of colours in this temple. It's really good. Everything is so colourful," said Shipra, a devotee. Holi brings together people from all classes and age groups who put colours on each other, distribute sweets and take out processions, dancing to tunes of drums in a milange of colours. Holi is associated with the uninhibited expression of love and affection across the country.
-March 3,  2007