Holi, the festival of colours will be celebrated across the country on Tuesday. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil and the arrival of spring.
The President and the Vice President have greeted the people on Holi.
In a message, President Ram Nath Kovind said, the Festival of Colours signals the end of winter and the advent of spring. He said, as the harbinger of hope, Holi has a special place in the cultural calendar.
The President said, its celebrations across the country are marked by a rare vivacity across generations. Mr Kovind said, Holi, with its myriad colours, is also the best reflection of Indian diversity and multicultural heritage. He hoped that the festival will strengthen the faith in the cherished national values and promote the good for all.
In his message, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said, Holi festival is a time for family and friends to come together and rejoice in the spirit of unity, brotherhood and affection. He said, the lighting of the bonfire on the eve of Holi symbolizes the triumph of virtue over evil.
He called upon people to strive to strengthen the bonds of friendship and amity in Holi which hold the society together. Mr Naidu hoped that the festival will break the barriers that divide people and unite everyone in the quest for shared prosperity, peace, progress, harmony and joy.
Rashtrapati Bhavan will not hold the traditional Holi gatherings this year as a precautionary measure in view of the coronavirus outbreak. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, several Union Ministers, BJP president J P Nadda will skip the Holi celebrations due to the outbreak.
In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of Novel Coronavirus. So this year, he has decided not to participate in any Holi milan programme.
Delhi Police has made elaborate traffic arrangements to ensure the safety of motorists and check the incidents of drunken driving in the city on Holi. Over 170 traffic pickets have been set up to ensure a peaceful and safe Holi celebration tomorrow. In an advisory Delhi traffic police has asked motorists to obey traffic rules on the day of the festival.
In view of Holi festival in the national capital tomorrow, Delhi Metro services will not be available till 2:30 pm. Metro feeder bus services will also not be available. Metro train services will start from the terminal stations at 2:30 pm and continue normally thereafter.
The service of Delhi Transport Corporation, DTC, buses will begin after 2 pm in the capital and surrounding areas . A DTC spokesperson said, only 898 buses will be available for operation tomorrow afternoon as the traffic load will be relatively less.
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