By IANS,
Hyderabad : Holi, the festival of colours, was Wednesday celebrated across Andhra Pradesh with traditional fanfare and gaiety.
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy led the celebrations. The governor and his wife Vimla Narasimhan played Holi with those who called on them at Raj Bhavan.
Eminent personalities from various walks of life and children were among those who greeted the governor at his official residence by applying colour. The governor reciprocated.
The chief minister played Holi with cabinet colleagues, legislators and leaders of his Congress. A group of tribal women added colour to the celebrations with their traditional dance.
‘Holi Hai’ rent the air as groups of enthusiasts on motorbikes zoomed on the streets of Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and other cities.
Dancing in gay abandon to popular numbers, youngsters sprinkled water colours on each other.
There were celebrations in the neighborhoods and on the streets with men, women and children drenched in colours. Many armed with ‘pichkaris’ and balloons filled with colour water were seen chasing each other.
The celebrations began early in the morning in cities, towns and villages. In Hyderabad, Muslims joined celebrations organized by various organizations.
In Telangana (which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad), where Holi is a major festival, scenes of communal harmony were witnessed.
The festivities began Tuesday night with bonfires lit at various places. People in neighborhoods came together to burn the wood in a ceremony called ‘kamadahanam’.
The revelry began early Wednesday with ‘Dhulandi’ as people threw coloured powder and coloured water on each other.
The houses of some MPs in Telangana witnessed grand celebrations. Warangal MP Sircilla Rajaih actively participated in the celebrations with his friends and followers by beating the drum.
Karimnagar MP Ponnam Prabhakar danced with revelers.
Police in Hyderabad imposed prohibitory orders to prevent any untoward incident.
Police commissioner Anurag Sharma issued orders prohibiting throwing colour or coloured water on unknown persons, places and vehicles. Police also banned movement of people in groups on bikes and cars.