United colors of India

wishing happy holi to all.
I am surprised how bollytainment industry has influenced whole of India to spread this predomintantly North Indian Tradition across the nation.
Though i have to admit that underlying similarities do exist between indian peninsula and gangetic plains for each tradition.
Here in Maharashtra we used to celebrate Holi just by burning bon fire and eating Puran Polis. I remember in my childhood going to a 'wakhar' for wood/gaurya etc. Holi used to run till late nights with 'marooing bombas', 'bailachya'.... sorry for a lot of marathi words but there is no equivalent stuff for that. those who have done that need no further explaination.
Then we used to have rang panchami after 5 days . It was played with colored water, baloon, pichkaris etc.
Normally it used to be exam time but there used to be alloted time by each parents.
Old wadas in Pune were amazing. maybe another blog topic : Old Pune... sometimes later.
Then the northern influence started creeping in with all holi songs: rang barses, holi ke din, Yash raj songs etc. so rangpanchami has lost its sheen and Holi is in thing.
Earlier we used to have a Hasya Kavi Sammelan on DD on holi eve. real fun with shail chaturvedi, sushil, suresh sharma etc. somehow i dont see many channels arranging that (ofcourse maybe due to number of laughter shows).
this holi was quiet . celebrated it in neighbourhood. Riya has some fever so had to restrict her. some friends dropped in. Last year was a typical bollywood bash at Khopoli bunglow. a typical jalsa with colors, friends, beverages... year before it was with some marathi film stars at shooting location in Pune.
Holi is fun. Nature is changing. summer has now set in. But the best Holi was in Kgp with friends, processions and profs. I remember in 94 when sachin came first for opening in ODI in NZ. It was holi. all of us waited till india won and then we started the celebrations.
Today again after 15 years we had another ODI in NZ with Sehwag scoring fastest ODI hundred by India. Very Nostalgic... Those were the best days of my life.