Bhubaneswar: Holi, the festival of colours was celebrated across the country with much vigour and zest. Particularly in Odisha, though the threat of coronavirus infection still looms large, youths were seen coming out in gatherings to celebrate the colourful festival commemorating triumph of good over evil.
As the legend goes, the name Holi, a predominantly north Indian festival gets its name from Holika, sister of the demon king Hiranyakashyap, who wanted its subjects to shun the God and worship him instead. Though many people obeyed his order, his son Prahlad turned out to be a staunch devotee of Lord Narayan and therefore an exception so Hiranyakashyap decided to kill him.
However, after all his attempts to kill Prahlad failed, Hiranyakashyap asked his sister Holika to hatch a plan to kill his son. But all his plans backfired and Holika was burned to ashes. Since then, the festival is celebrated as the victory of good over evil.
Though, a majority of leaders from PM Modi to CM Naveen Patnaik have announced that they won’t be taking part in Holi celebrations this year amid fears of Coronavirus outbreak that apparently couldn’t deter overenthusiastic youths to indulge in the revelries of Holi.
Soaked in the colours of Holi, a student of Arts and Crafts College in Balasore said, “Every day we pour colour in our artworks, but today is the only day when we don colours on ourselves and relive our arts.”
Similarly a Cuttack resident said, “We are playing holi with turmeric and sandalwood paste. It’s keeping us safe from Coronavirus.”
Here is how PM Modi, CM Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP National VP Baijayant Panda extended their wishes on Holi.