New Delhi: It was colours all the way in the national capital for the second day on March 19, as Holi was celebrated with equal fervour and enthusiasm by both commoners and VVIPs, including Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

The Holi fever gripped Delhi since early morning, with people rushing out of their houses and splashing dry and water colours on their friends, relatives and even strangers.

Men and women from all ages competed to display enthusiasm as drums beat to various famous Hindi films songs on Holi.

Incidentally, Delhiites got an unprecedented advantage of celebrating the festival of colours for two consecutive days, thanks to the confusion over the dates. Government offices, private enterprises and other business establishments remained closed for the second day, as did most of the educational institutions.

Vajpayee, Advani and Gandhi gave a high profile touch to the festivity as they celebrated the day along with colleagues and supporters.

The Prime Minister started receiving guests since early morning, with Advani being the first to call on him to greet him and apply 'gulal' on him.

Advani was followed by Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shanker Prasad and other Cabinet colleagues, with whom Vajpayee celebrated the occasion in media glare.

PTI