New Delhi, Mar 27 (IANS): Soaked in a riot of colours, Delhi Wednesday celebrated Holi as revellers smeared gulal (coloured powder) on each other, distributed sweets and danced to music.

While youngsters armed with pichkaris and balloons filled with coloured water sprayed each other as well as passersby, the elders preferred to smear each other with gulal as they hugged and wished 'Holi Mubarak' to each other.

"My brother and me were up till late last night and filled over 100 balloons with coloured water. Since morning we have been (targeting) people with them," said 15-year-old Astha Sharma, a resident of Patel Nagar in west Delhi.

Bands of youngsters drenched in all hues-blue, green, pink, red, yellow etc. could be seen roaming the streets with colours, balloons and pichkaris as they searched for unwary people.

Many visited the local temples and prayed to Lord Krishna on the occasion.

"Holi is a festival of colours which aptly defines the life of Krishna. I prayed for everyone's happiness and prosperity," Swati Singh, a 36-year-old homemaker, said.

Apart from the colours, another highlight of the festival was the mouth-watering delicacies.

Sweets, especially the traditional gujiyas, were the order of the day as people exchanged them and greeted each other. The more adventurous downed thandai (cold drink) laced with bhang to add zest to their celebrations.

"I have got bhang pakoras and bhang thandai apart from the traditional gujiyas, jalebis and samosas for the Holi feast," said 48-year-old Vimal Gujral, who had hosted a Holi party at his home in north Delhi's Model Town.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police, traffic were on their toes as barricades were put across the city and teams of traffic police officials were stationed on all major roads and intersections to keep a stringent check on errant motorists and drunk driving.