Holi was celebrated in the temple town of Mathura with traditional and religious fervour with people engaging in festivities and offering prayers to local deities.
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People as well as pilgrims played Holi with the deity in Bankey Bihari temple and the ancient seven temples of Vrindavan, Gyanendra Kishor Goswami, the priest of the temple, said.
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In Goverdhan town, at least 10 lakh pilgrims performed circumambulation of hillock Goverdhan after paying their obeisance to the deity in Daan Ghati temple during the past five days beginning with Ekadashi, head priest of the temple Mathura Prasad Kaushik said.
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A grand Holi celebration was held in Ram Mandir at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya. This was the last Holi celebrated in the temporary temple as the idols of Ram Lalla will be placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the new Ram Mandir, which is expected to be completed by December this year.
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Talking to PTI, the chief priest of Ram Mandir Acharya Satyendra Das said, “The clothes of Ram Lalla and the entire make-up was in green colour. Ram Lalla was anointed with divine perfumes and organic colours were applied to the idol. Several types of dishes were served to the deity.”
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Other temples in Ayodhya celebrated the festival of colours with dry colours (Gulaal) and leaves of roses and marigold flowers. Special prayers were offered in the temples.
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In Shahjahanpur district, locals participated in the procession of “Lat Sahab” on the occasion of Holi.
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The traditional procession travels on an animal cart and passes through various parts of the city before concluding at the Kotwali police station.
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There was heavy police deployment across the district for the procession.
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"The procession of Bade as well as Chote Lat Sahab was taken out peacefully amid tight security. No untoward incident was reported during the procession," Superintendent of Police S Anand said.
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Holi celebrations remained peaceful across Uttar Pradesh with no major untoward incident being reported from any district, Additional Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said.
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“Holi celebrations in the state were held peacefully. Adequate police and security personnel were deployed in every district," he said.