The city was awash with colour and life came to a grinding halt as people celebrated Holi on Wednesday.

A festive mood prevailed in the city throughout the day. Shops, business establishments and hotels downed shutters, and public and private vehicles were off the road until evening, as youngsters and revellers took to the streets in the morning itself.

No untoward incident was reported anywhere in the district.

The government had not declared a holiday on Wednesday and attendance at its offices was thin.

Nationalised banks suspended operations for the day.

Competition

Bidar Special Correspondent writes:

Holi was celebrated with joy across the district on Wednesday. Some residents set up temporary shelters to provide drinking water to revellers. Several NGOs distributed buttermilk and lemon juice, while yuvak mandals put up tents and served snacks.

The members of a youth club organised a ‘dahi handi’ competition in the old city.

Official reception

Government employees gathered at Durga Darshini, the Deputy Commissioner P.C. Jaffer’s residence, to play Holi.

There, they were met by Dr. Jaffer, Ujjwal Kumar Ghosh, zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer, and Sunil Panwar, Deputy Conservator of Forests, among others.

Bandeppa Kashempur, MLA, joined a group of Lambani women in their dance in the celebrations organised outside his house. Residents of villages and tandas in the taluk participated in the celebrations there.

Rahim Khan, MLA, played Holi with villagers who visited his house on Ring Road.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Gulbarga, March 28th, 2013