Splash of colours as people make the best of holidays

RANCHI: There was no dearth of colours on city streets as Ranchiites made the best of the two-day holiday.
The confusion over the date of the festival came as a boon as the state had declared a two-day holiday. People of all ages took the chance to have a two-day celebration. Gourmet food and Holi-special dishes, like malpua, added to the revelry.
"There was confusion so I played Holi for two consecutive days which was fun as our examinations got over recently and we all wanted to destress ourselves.On the first day I played Holi with all my school friends and the next day I played with all my neighbours," said Aadittee Singh.
According to Ritu Singh, a homemaker, any celebration would be incomplete without food. So she made some pleasant changes on the Holi menu for her family with whom she celebrated Holi on March 27.
"My husband got a holiday on March 27, so we all celebrated holi on that day. However, we joined our neighbours next day also. It was nice to see the children playing with colours and water guns… I changed my menu and prepared delicacies like 'malpuwa', 'dahi vada', 'papdi chat' for my guests. Earlier, I used to prepare the traditional 'puwa' and a tasty vegetable.
"In the evening we visited all relatives and some of the houses which are left will be covered by this week," said Singh.
Thandai, a Holi-special drink, was the favourite thirst quencher on the festival.
Herbal colours were in vogue as they were eco-friendly and not harmful to skin. Girls preferred these colours the most.
also didn't hide inside but came out and played with colours thanks to the herbal colours, which are totally eco friendly and toxic free.
"Last time I played Holi and the colours affected my skin as I started having itching and irritation in my eyes. This time I tried out the herbal colours which were safe," said Aadittee.
However, as all shops were closed, including petrol pumps, on March 28 many people had to face inconvenience. "When I went to the petrol pump it was closed so I had to drop the plan of moving to far off places to visit my relatives. We also planned a dinner out which we had to drop as most of the restaurants were also closed on that day," said Rahul kumar, a banker.
There were many who just waited to gorge on the delicious traditional food being made on this occasion.
"Besides the bright gulal's I always wait for Holi because of the traditional malpuwa's being made which are something amazing. I stay in the hostel but never miss Holi because of these puwa's and gujiyas," said Shubham Kumar, a college student who stays in Bangalore.