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Patna, March 9 (IANS) It was celebrated a day later in Bihar owing to astrological reasons, but Holi came with all its colours and camaraderie when it did Friday. Among the revellers was Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who donned a pink turban - for a very special reason!
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The chief minister was expressing his happiness for his Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal, who made history in his state three days ago by bucking anti-incumbency and coming back to power in the assembly polls.
"I am wearing a pink coloured 'pagri' to mark happiness and respect for a record victory of Punjab Chief Minister Badal. It is my gesture for him on the occasion of Holi," Kumar said.
Kumar celebrated Holi at 1 Anne Marg, his high security official residence, with hundreds of people.
"Kumar celebrated the festival in a simple way," a staffer at his residence told IANS.
A worker of the ruling Janata Dal-United said: "It was a dry Holi as Nitish Kumar permits only dry herbal colours and not coloured water to drench him." He also enjoyed classical songs and dances with his party leaders and supporters.
While the rest of India marked the festival of colours Thursday, Holi was celebrated across Bihar Friday with traditional colour and folk songs.
A Patna-based astrologer Nawalkishore Mishra said March 7 was "Holika Dahan" day while March 9 was the day to celebrate Holi with colours.
"The gap between the Holika Dahan and Holi is due to astrological reasons. According to the 'panchang' (Hindu astrological calendar) of Mithila and Varanasi, water colours come out on the occasion of 'Pratipada', the day after full moon," he said.
Youths and children sprayed coloured water and smeared dry colour on each other.
But former chief minister Lalu Prasad's famous 'kapra phar' (cloth-tearing) Holi was missing this year as Lalu is in New Delhi. "Laluji is celebrating Holi with his family in Delhi," Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Ram Kirpal Yadav said.
On other Holis, Lalu used to arrange 'launda nach' (male dancing in female attire) and celebrate his trademark 'kapra phar' Holi, to drum beats and Bhojpuri songs.
"It seems Lalu has changed after his repeated political debacles in Bihar. When he ruled and even after he was ousted from power in Bihar in 2005, Lalu did not miss his annual date with people. But now he is away in Delhi," diehard supporter, Mukesh Rai, said.
Security was tight across the state, especially in sensitive areas, to prevent any untoward incidents.
"There are no reports of untoward incidents till now. Holi is so far peaceful," said Bihar police chief Abhyanand, who also celebrated the festival at his residence.
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