People who love the festival of colours, Holi, have got a chance to celebrate it twice as at a few places it was celebrated on Wednesday and a few places would be celebrating it on Thursday. The State Government and Bhopal district collector declared holiday on March 23.
The calendar of the Central Government mentions the Holi festival on March 24.
In the city the doctors would be on round-the-clock call duty. To keep control over the hooligans security arrangements have been made.
On Wednesday Holi was celebrated in Bhopal, Ujjain and other cities while Indore and other cities the festival would be celebrated on Thursday.
Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Morena, Sheopur would have two holiday on Wednesday and Thursday while Bhopal, Ujjain, Sagar, Hoshangabad, Sagar and Ratlam would have holiday on Wednesday.
The festival finds a detailed description in early religious works such as Jaimini's Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutras. Historians also believe that Holi was celebrated by all Aryans but more so in the Eastern part of India.
Historians believe that the festival was celebrated by Aryans also and it is celebrated in northern parts of the country. A stone inscription belonging to 300 BC found at Ramgarh in the province of Vindhya has mention of Holikotsav on it.
Several religious literatures have mentions of Holi festival. As the festival is celebrated at the commencement of the spring season the other names of this festival - Vasanta-Mahotsava and Kama-Mahotsava.
One of the important festivals celebrated in spring season Holi is celebrated by Indian and Nepali people. The festival is celebrated on full moon of Phalgun month according to the Hindu calendar.
Festival of Holi is not only celebrated by Hindus but by Muslims also. Akbar used to celebrate Holi with Jodhabai and Jehangir with Nurjahan. The minister of last Mughal ruler Bahadur Shah Zafar used to celebrate Holi with him.
The festival starts with Basant Panchami on which the colour. Besides having a detailed description in the Vedas and Puranas such as Narad Purana and Bhavishya Purana, the festival of Holi finds a mention in Jaimini Mimansa. It is one of the ancient festivals of the country which is celebrated as Holi, Holika or Holaka.