Odisha celebrates Holi with gaiety

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, March 17:

The Holi frenzy gripped Odisha today as people across the state celebrated the festival of colours with enthusiasm and gaiety.

In Bhubaneswar, the streets were filled with Holi revellers who danced in groups while spraying, smearing and throwing colour at each other. At the main market building at Unit 2 here, hundreds of people gathered to take part in the traditional Matka Phodo event.

The campuses of residential educational institutions across the city came alive with students losing themselves in gay abandon amidst the riot of colours and loud music.

In the residential area, women were found moving in groups and visiting every other house in their neighbourhood.

The gates of Raj Bhawan was open today to people who not only got to watch Governor Dr SC Jamir and his wife celebrate Holi but also had the rare opportunity to share colours with them.

Naveen Niwas, the residence of the chief minister, for a change wore a deserted look today as Naveen Patnaik announced he will not celebrate Holi in view of the devastation caused by cyclone Phailin. His party colleagues said the decision made sense because while it was politically correct, it would give him the time to reflect on the ‘ticket mess’.

The police and the fire brigade units across the state have been put on high alert. The traffic police have been asked to keep a watch over rash driving and road rage.