By IANS, [RxPG] New Delhi, March 4 - President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam joined the rest of India Sunday to celebrate Holi, as millions splashed rainbow hues on each other's faces and clothes to mark the festival of colour.

And although large numbers in India stayed away from the festival for a variety of reasons, non-Hindus in Pakistan joined their Hindu compatriots to celebrate in the cities of Lahore and Karachi.

The spirit of Holi was evident all over the Indian capital, including the Rashtrapati Bhavan where Kalam received a group of children and used the event to press the need for them to do community service.

Kalam also administered a five-point oath to his young visitors enjoining them to, among others, visit a sick neighbour, to help a handicapped person cross the street - and to keep smiling.

Fortunately, Sunday turned out to be a perfect day to play with water and colour, with the sun shining brightly after a week of chilly and cloudy weather that raised fears of possible rains during the festival.

Authorities heaved a sigh of relief as the day passed off without any major unpleasant incident though many on the streets had consumed liquor and other intoxicants.

In New Delhi, the celebrations began early with squeals of laughter resounding from various households as the 'colourful attacks' started with dry colours. But soon buckets full of coloured water and 'pichkaris' came out for the wet spell, spraying everyone in sight.

In the university's north campus, young boys thronged the terraces of their houses and aimed balloons filled with water at passers by, especially at girls. Not to be left behind, the girls retaliated in an equally colourful manner.

'I was not very keen on playing Holi but my friends simply refused to take no for an answer. They dragged me out of my room and poured two buckets of coloured water on me!' said a drenched Sujata, who then decided to join in the fun.

Reports from across the country spoke of Holi celebrations from Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh to Andhra Pradesh and from Gujarat to the northeast.

Dancing to the tunes of popular numbers, young people and children played Holi drenched in colours from head to toe. Popular clubs buzzed with revellers who danced in artificial rain.

In Patna, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, upbeat over his 'dream railway budget', played Holi in his inimitable style by splashing coloured water and singing songs while Chief Minister Nitish Kumar celebrated it in a low-key manner.

Holi celebrations also took place in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, where the festivities have been on for days in some parts including Mathura region.

In Chhattisgarh, 11 of the state's 12 ministers celebrated Holi in their native places Sunday. Only Revenue, Forest and Law Minister Brijmohan Agrawal was present here in the capital Raipur.

In Pakistan, people from different faiths Saturday participated in a colourful Holi festival at a Krishna temple in Lahore amid beating of drums, dancing and dazzling lights. Christians, Muslims and Sikhs celebrated the event along with Hindus at the temple packed with Holi enthusiasts.

The mood was subdued in parts of Delhi. This was perhaps in equal measure due to health concerns, a stiff breeze for part of the morning and the burden of rising prices that almost everyone has to contend with.

The large police presence on Delhi's streets ensured that these were by and large free on the lumpen elements that tend to race around on two-wheelers on Holi.

For the non-revellers, this meant a dream drive on the broad roads of the city, while those who had to travel to work or on other errands had a comparatively easy time. By early evening, Delhi returned to its near normal self.

While the ubiquitous auto rickshaws were out in fair numbers in the morning, commuter buses were out from around noon - a departure from the past when they used to start plying only around 2 p.m.

Bollywood might continue to generate immense hype about Holi but over the years, the festival has increasingly raised health concerns - with experts warning that the colours that people splash on each other contain toxins that would harm the skin and other parts of the body.

There are others who would rather do without the messiness of first turning into goblin-like creatures and then spending hours trying to rub the colours off.

Across the country, state governments and NGOs touted the benefits of playing Holi with herbal and other natural colours but there were many who couldn't be bothered with the distinction and preferred to stay at home - at least for the first half of the day.

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