Let’s make this holi a happy one for everyone

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Two years after celebrations were stymied thanks to Coronavirus, Holi will be celebrated, we think, with extra zeal this year. It would be certainly good to see festivals as harbingers for getting back to our old way of living, or the new normal as we call it, but let us mark this happy day with empathy above all.

The pandemic taught us a few lessons, prime among which should be thoughtfulness for others, hygiene and value for life.

The sickening colour balloon hurled inside trains, of which women are a prime target, need to stop or simply cannot be allowed, with increased surveillance helping nab these criminals.

We also must be careful when playing Holi so that we do not hurl colour and water at people who do not wish to participate in this aspect of the festival.

Housing societies that have Holi fests must see that staircases and lifts and even terraces, where it is played at times, are cleaned up afterwards, showing decency and respect for all those living in the premises.

We often witness housing society members leaving staircases and elevators besides common area passages wet and slippery, in elevators this may be dangerous, post Holi. Children or youngsters must have the discipline to see that the colour is washed off and the areas dry. Slippery staircases can be extremely dangerous, especially for senior citizens. Those who insist on this are automatically labelled spoilsports or wet blankets. This is pressure and certainly not true. People are free to celebrate and have their fun, just not at the cost of others or posing any problems for them.

We must refuse to cave in to those who seek to communalise well-meaning advice or rules by saying those who give or make them are against a community. Make this a Happy Holi for everybody.