Students of Patna Women’s College celebrate Holi on campus on Friday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, March 18: “You are a stupid if you don’t let yourself be smeared with colours on Holi. Why would you want to stay away when everyone is having fun?” said Jaya, a bachelor of computer applications student of Patna Women’s College.

She and her friends were playing with colours at the Holi Milan Samaroh in the college. The teachers and the students set aside their regular routine and indulged in smearing each other with gulal.

Jaya had a few things to say to girls who do not play Holi because they think the colours are bad for their skin. Jaya said: “Even Bollywood actresses Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Katrina Kaif play Holi. Who do they (her friends) think they are?

“If you are really worried about your skin, take precautions. Use moisturiser to shield your skin, oil your hair to prevent damage. But it is stupid not to play Holi — it is a part of our tradition and culture,” she added.

For Jaya’s friend Neha Niharika, selecting the proper colours is the main preparation before Holi. “Every colour has some meaning. This time, it is purple for me. I have made sure that my father arranges purple gulal this year,” she said.

Holi is no fun without some mischief, said the 18-year-old student. “I mix some liquid colour with the gulal so that the effect of the hues remains longer on my friends. I do this every year. It is a lot of fun. But I am sure my friends have also planned some mischief,” said Neha.

A dance competition was also organised today to celebrate the Holi. Five groups from different departments took part in the celebration and performed to numbers like Woh Kisna hain and Bara nathkhat. The BEd department of the college grabbed the first position in the competition, sociology department came second, while the business administration and the mass communication departments came third.