New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi Monday celebrated Holi in a simple manner at her residence with a group of school children.

Party sources said the Congress chief decided to observe the festival in a simple way in view of the loss of lives in the Pune blast and last week's terror attack in Kabul in which nine Indians were killed.

The usual crowd of Congress workers, dancing to the beat of drums and throwing pink `gulal' powder at each other, was not seen outside Gandhi's 10, Janpath residence Monday.

Congress party treasurer Motilal Vora, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Diskhit and union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik were among the few party leaders who visited her residence.

Gandhi, dressed in a black salwar kameez, accepted the greetings from a group of disabled children and school children at her residence.

She gifted them bouquets and packets of sweets.

The festival remained low-key affair for many Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in the capital due to the passing away Saturday of veteran Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Nanaji Deshmukh.

Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani cancelled his Holi-related engagements due to Deshmukh's demise.