Environment over tradition, city to go eco-friendly this Holi

GUWAHATI/AGARTALA/IMPHAL: The Holi festival in Tripura this year will coincide with the much anticipated outcome of the state assembly election result on Saturday. The BJP has declared to host a Holi celebration with the common people the next day after the announcement of the election result. The Tripura government, however, announced Friday as a holiday for Holi.
On the other hand, the Holi festival will start on Thursday in Assam and other northeastern states.

Makhan Saha, a colour dealer from Agartala, said, "Besides the traditional natural colours, we have also decided to sell three special kind of colours - saffron, red and green. He added, "This will be the rarest event in the history of Tripura as Holi is coinciding with the election result."

Saha also said there is a huge stock of saffron and red colours that have been bought for Holi this year.

"We got a bulk order of 55 quintal of saffron colour, which is expected to reach here on Thursday. On the following day, we have to supply around 45 quintal of the colour to other sub-divisions by any means," Babul Paul, a business of M G Bazaar in Agartala, said.

BJP media in-charge Victor Shome said the party is expecting a landslide victory in Tripura but playing of colours will not be related to poll outcome. He added, "We will play with the saffron colour only on Saturday along with the people of Tripura."

In Guwahati, with 'save water' as the motto for Holi this year, the residents have decided to avoid the 'rain dance' festival during the celebration this year. The organisers of the city's biggest holi celebrations said they are going to avoid the rain dance festivity to spread the message of water conservation and to celebrate the festival in an organic way.

Shailendra Sarma, a member of the organising committee, said, "Holi is a festival in which people from all castes, creed or economic status com together to celebrate by smearing the same colour on their faces. This is a unique way to feel equal and strengthen the bond of brotherhood."

Last year, the Kamrup metro district administration has also requested the organisers to avoid the rain dance session.

Folk artists from across Assam are invited to join the celebration. Guwahati city police along with other volunteers have been roped in to maintain law and order during the festival, in which thousands of citizens are likely to participate. Besides that, several private parties will also be held throughout the city.

In Manipur, with the five-day Yaoshang (Holi) just a day away, various local clubs and NGOs are all prepared to organise various sports festivals across the districts. Besides sports, Yaoshang's religious spirits and festive moods have already enveloped the state.

Most of the local clubs will light the torch flame from the sacred Kangla fort in Imphal city and then they will move towards their respective sports venues on Thursday.

During Yaoshang, Manipuri Vaisnavites perform the traditional Holi Pala and sing devotional songs at various worship places including the historic Shri Shri Govindajee temple at Palace compound in Imphal.

At night, young boys and girls enjoy Thabal Chongba, a traditional dance, to the tunes of flute, saxophone and drums. People also enjoy grand feastings at households and community halls.