Eaint the town red or lock yourself in

It has always been like this in the Pandey household. She recalls: “This is how it has been over the years, even earlier when my children were here. It was understood that our house was to be the venue and we would feed them. Not that I am a great cook, most people come loaded with sweets and I treat them to the savouries.”

But not everybody is looking forward to tomorrow. The city has its share of people who will lock themselves in their homes and probably read a book or watch television. Top on the list, of course are families where there are children taking the board examinations this year.

“I love celebrating Holi, but not this time,” says actress Nafisa Ali. “My daughter is taking her Board exams this year and I am trying to set the right example. I don’t want her to play this time and hope she will stay at home and study. In any case, it’s not Holi anymore, it is a war of colours.”

For someone who simply loves festivities, former model Feroze Gujral, is not too happy about tomorrow’s colour splash. “I’ve never enjoyed Holi,” she confesses. “And I don’t see why people love it so much. It’s just an excuse to force colour on others. I know I must sound horrible when I say this, especially since my husband and children have such fun every Holi. They simply love the festival.”

“Maybe it’s (the bias) just because I’m allergic to colours. I was exposed to Holi quite late in life. I spent most of my childhood abroad and unfortunately when I celebrated my first Holi in India I developed a terrible rash. It just scared me off the festival.”

Another person put off by Holi hooliganism is Jiggs Kalra. “Some idiot once put some silver stuff on my beard,” Kalra says. “Ever since I have stopped playing Holi. I plan to stay locked up in my house tomorrow.”

Holi maybe off limits for Kalra and Feroze, but for Feroze’s children it’s a time to freak out. “For the past seven days they have been having a gala time, complete with water balloon-fights,” she says. “Our pure white dog is now a technicolour dog and just today, my daughter came running to me to show off her mehndi — which was actually some horrible fluorescent colour.”But Gujral and Kalra are in a minority. Because for most others in the city, Holi is fun-time.