Smearing colourful happiness and throwing colours of smiles and water of love on the festival of Holi

Delhi, March 20: Holi is a beautiful festival of colours & should be a memorable experience for one & all, even animals. Holi colours cause itching & other health hazards for animals, so one must ensure they're well being. Have a safe and a Happy Holi everyone.

It is the festival of colours, mirth, unification, dance and smacking foods like Gujiya, Masala Mathri, Samosa, Puran Poli, Thandai, Chaats like Papri Chaat and Dahi Vallah. The list is endless!

The interesting fact to mark about Holi in Himachal Pradesh is that thousands gather at the holy shrine of Ponta Sahib in Sirmour district on the banks of Yamuna. The shrine is highly regarded and people have great faith in it. People light bonfires-fires called Holika, symbolic of the victory of good over evil.

To mark the auspicious occasion – which embraces unity, diversity and traditions – Emirates customers travelling on 20th and 21st March between Dubai and Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai or Hyderabad, will enjoy classic Indian sweets and delicacies associated with Holi. Widely known as the country’s ‘Festival of Colours’, Holi is considered to be one of India’s most distinguished annual celebrations.

People in this state are all charged up when it comes to playing with colours. Pichkaris in various creative and innovative designs are specially bought by children to colour anybody who comes in sight and even more to the one who tries to escape...all in good fun.

Holi celebrations in Delhi often begins with a 'Tilak'. A Tilak is a traditional mark of colour drawn on a person's forehead. To some it is a symbol of honour, to some it represents confidence. Some wear it as a custom. Some belief it to be a good omen.

People also greet one another with garlands before commencing Holi. Delhiites (people who live in Delhi) celebrate holy with endless music. Delhi is perceived to have a musical Holi.

Martial arts like archery, sword fencing, fancy horse-riding, tent-pegging, and the deft handling of other contraptions of offence and defence are displayed by the Nihangs. Spectacular and thrilling acts of dare-devilry dexterously executed are performed in Punjab.

The celebration of Holi as Basanta Utsav (Spring Festival) in Shantiniketan was started by famous Bengali poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

A three-day Basanta Utsav folk festival takes place in the Purulia district of West Bengal. It runs in the lead up to Holi and on an actual day. You'll get to sing and play Holi with the locals, as well as enjoy a wide variety of unique folk art.

For an unforgettable regal experience, join in the celebration of Udaipur's Mewar royal family. There will be a magnificent palace procession from the royal residence to Manek Chowk at the City Palace, including bedecked horses and royal band. Later the traditional sacred fire will be lit and an effigy of Holika