Priyanka Tiwari
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Before Holi, which is on Friday this year and occurs in the Ramzan calendar, the government of Uttar Pradesh set forth the precautionary measure of covering the revered Jama Masjid and other 9 mosques with plastic sheets and tarpaulin covers.
The ruling BJP party’s leaders and some government officials had strongly advised Muslims who have a challenge of getting their faces colorized to remain indoors, which incited a lot of panic for the public.
Zafar Ali, the president of Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid stated that Holi prayers will be conducted on 14th March as usual, but will commence at 14:30. He also encouraged both communities to have a peaceful celebration of Holi alongside collective Friday prayers.
Masjids that have been located along the route of the conventional 'Laat Saheb' Holi celebration in Shahjahanpur are now placed under heavy security and have also been covered with tarpaulins.
Following tradition Holi in the district of Shahjahanpur commences with, the local people throwing shoes at an individual dressed like the ‘Laat Saheb’ a British Lord who is usually captured inside a bullock cart.
The local administration has also placed barricades along the procession route and installed several CCTV cameras.
“According to Superintendent Of Police Rajesh S which reported to PTI, the city consists of 18 Holi processions, which includes 2 primary ones known as 'Laat Sahebs.' ‘For safety reasons, the larger procession, has been sectioned into 3 zones and 8 sectors, with roughly 100 magistrates positioned,’ he continued.”
“He stated that more than 200 people were barred in advance in order to stop troublemakers from causing issues and that ‘Roughly 250 Sub Inspectors, 1500 policemen, two PAC companies, along with ten circle sergeants of policemen made up the rest of the security measures.’”
“"…and more extremities of the borders where the additional paramilitary forces are now stationed as well as the districts of Mathura, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Rampur, Aligarh, Agra, Kanpur Gonda Baheirch and Siddharthnagar,” Her Exellency Sh. Sameer Varma commented.”
“Vikas Khurana of Swami Sukhdevanand College witnessed changes as a historian and made clear that recorders that will live stream the event from 16 police posts will put the footage and photographs from a sky lift that will also be a part of the procession. ‘There will also be two tractor trolleys able to gather valuables such as torn clothes, casts, shoes, along with any other rubbish undesired,’ he said,”
"Afterwards, he did Holi with the natives, which became an annual practice for him. In 1930, the procession started using camel carts for transportation. Its format has developed through the years," he spoke to PTI. Khurana further noted that a case was brought to the high court in the 1990s to prevent the procession from taking place, however, the judges did not want to make such an intervention stating it is an old tradition.
