The riot of colours and the splashes of water await Amdavadis as the city is all set to celebrate Dhuleti, the second day of the Holi festival, on Wednesday. On Tuesday, traffic was thinner compared to other days, bringing in the festive spirit.Several city schools, colleges, and universities celebrated the festival of colours on Tuesday with students smearing each other in all hues and firing water guns at one another. At Jagannathji Temple, phooldolotsav was celebrated, with the temple mahant and other members of the community playing Holi with flower petals. “It is a venue-hopping festival as we plan to visit at least three to four friends’ homes and play Holi, complete with thandai and snacks,” said Aarna Patel, a resident of South Bopal. “The spirit of the festival lies in its capacity to connect people. It is also a perfect antidote to the rising mercury in recent times.” Several clubs and housing societies in the city made special arrangements for the event. A society in Vastrapur organized a rain dance for residents, another in the Gota area organized a society-level celebration, complete with music and food. Several private farmhouses will host gatherings of friends and family members. EMRI 108 officials said that they expect a 44% rise in overall emergencies on Wednesday. Arrangements were also made to ensure that the ambulances are equipped to tackle the rush. The rise is expected in categories of road accidents, physical assault, abdominal pain, and falls. The officials advised citizens to be careful on city roads, avoid rash driving, be careful around water bodies and swimming pools, and monitor children.
