Celebrations for Holi, the festival of colours, have begun across India with great zeal even through fear of coronavirus still prevails among people.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare extended greetings to the people on the occasion and also appealed them to take measures to protect themselves from coronavirus.

"Good morning and Happy Holi! As we enjoy the colourful festival of #Holi, simple steps will protect us and others from #COVID19," tweeted the ministry.

Good morning and Happy Holi! As we enjoy the colourful festival of #Holi, simple steps will protect us and others from #COVID19. #SwasthaBharat #HelpUsHelpYou pic.twitter.com/xJ14yri0pS — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 10, 2020

Madhya Pradesh: #Holi being celebrated at Mahakal Temple in Ujjain. pic.twitter.com/0furxQiXir — ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2020

#WATCH Mumbai: An effigy based on the theme of #CoronaVirus that was put up in Worli was burned as a part of Holika Dahan, a ritual that takes on the eve of #Holi festival. (09.03.2020) pic.twitter.com/1qUKvl1erd — ANI (@ANI) March 9, 2020

Odisha: People apply colours to each other after #HolikaDahan celebrations on the eve of #Holi, in Bhubaneswar. pic.twitter.com/gya6U9uzEp — ANI (@ANI) March 9, 2020

A majority of leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have already said that they will take part in any 'Holi Milan' due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The festival of colours holds a special place in Hindu mythology. Holi celebrates the start of a new season-spring. Earlier, it commemorated good harvests of the Rabi crop, the fertile land before the Kharif crop and the rains. It was a time to enjoy the end of winter and the beginning of spring filled with hope and joy.

Holi has many more aspects to it than just playing with water and colour. Here's a look at the mythological and significance of this much-loved festival.

In different parts of the country, Holi is celebrated with different traditions.

Colour and water is thrown as people of all age groups get together to celebrate the festival which is associated with family, fun and joy.