Holi the festival of colour is being celebrated across the country today. President, Vice President and Prime Minister have greeted the nation on the ocassion . In her message, the President Mrs Pratibha Devisingh Patil has said that Holi is a festival of colours that heralds joy, hope and fulfilment in lives of people. In a message the Vice President, M. Hamid Ansari has said that this festival marks the onset of spring and will bring peace happiness and promote national integration. The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, in his message, has said that festival of colours is a part of country's rich and diverse cultural heritage. He said it is associated with the celebration of brotherhood and harmony.

In West Bengal also, people are celebrating the Holi festival with fervour and enthusiasm. Large number of people have gathered in Shantiniketan to witness the Vasanta Utsav started by Gurdev Rabindranath Tagore. Devotees have also assembled at Mayapur and Nabadwip in Nadia district on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

In Jharkhand, the festival of colours will be celebrated tomorrow. However, some communities in the state are celebrating Holi today. There is much enthusiasm among the people for the festival as the state has seen bumper crop production this year. Police and administration have also made security arrangements for the festival.

In Punjab, three day Holi celebrations known as “Hola Mohala” started at Sri Anand Pur Sahib, the birth place of “Khalsa” yesterday. Lakhs of devotees have gathered there to celebrate the festival in a traditional way. Today, political conferences are being held there to preserve and perpetuate glorious traditions of martial arts and carry forward the legacy of universal brotherhood propounded by Guru Gobind Singh. There will be a great show of Martial Art Games by Nihang Singhs, particularly of Tent Pegging and Gatka during the celebrations.