Holi processions in Old City to end early to facilitate Juma prayers

Lucknow: In view of Holi celebrations coinciding with Friday prayers during the ongoing holy month of Ramazan, the festival committees of three localities in the Old City have decided to end Holi processions an hour prior to the prescribed time in their respective areas on March 14. The decision has been taken to avoid any inconvenience to members of Muslim community who will participate in Friday prayers.
Chief Warden, Civil Defence, Lucknow, Amarnath Mishra, said the Holi processions taken out by the Holi festival committees of Chowk, Chaupatiyan and Raja Bazar Holi used to end between 1-2 pm. However, he added, now the three committees have decided that they will end processions by 12.30 pm. The decision taken on Friday with a meeting with police authorities has been taken to uphold Ganga-Jamuni culture of the city, he said.
The meeting, which was held on Mishra's initiative, was attended by police officials and members of Holi procession committees of Chowk, Chaupatiyan and Raja Bazar. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Vishwajeet Srivastava. The tradition of these three processions are 70-80 years old. Members of both Hindu and Muslim communities participate in these processions.
Imam of Aishbagh Eidgah, Maulana Khalid Rashid, who is also an executive member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, had on Friday announced that the namaz at Aishbagh will be offered on next Friday (on Holi day) from 2 pm instead of 12.30pm. He had changed the timing to avoid coinciding festivities with prayers. He had also advised other mosques in the city to change namaz timings.
Mishra said that by taking steps in view of each other's convenience, the Hindu and Muslim brothers of Lucknow have presented a fine example of brotherhood and mutual respect.