New Delhi: Dry, coloured powder (gulal) took centrestage in the national capital on Friday as people celebrated Holi by smearing it on each other and also exchanged sweets and greetings.

Devotees thronged Krishna temples across the city to mark the festival.

In crowded urban pockets, the celebrations were more robust with large bands of revellers armed with balloons filled with coloured water – deep purple, black and silver – pelting anyone they came across.

The enthusiasm to celebrate the festival was equal across all age groups as men, women and youngsters were seen drenching one another with colour.

Sweets, especially the traditional “gujiyas”, were the order of the day. The more adventurous downed the refreshing “thandai” (a cold drink prepared with a mixture of almonds, fennel seeds, rose petals, cardamom, saffron, milk and sugar), laced with “bhaang” (a preparation from the leaves and flowers of the female cannabis plant), to add zest to their celebrations.

“This is my third Holi in Delhi and its a completely different experience in comparison with my hometown’s (Patna) Holi celebration. People get along so well to enjoy the festival here,” Sikha Rai, a student at Delhi University’ law faculty, told IANS.

She also said that to avoid any kind of problems during the celebration, Delhi Police constables were deployed in many areas of the university.

Pradeep Gujjar, an IT consultant from Mayur Vihar said: “I don’t play Holi but I do go to the temple and play a wee bit for formality’s sake. I don’t, however, forget to wish everybody in my neighbourhood and distribute sweets to everyone, especially children.”

Police were on the streets of the national capital to check drunken driving and unruly conduct by Holi revellers.