Riot of colours marks Rangpanchami

BLOOM OF spring, loads of gulal and tesu colour and, not to mention, bhang marked Rangpanchami celebrations, which brought to close the five-day festival of Holi, in the City today.

BLOOM OF spring, loads of gulal and tesu colour and, not to mention, bhang marked Rangpanchami celebrations, which brought to close the five-day festival of Holi, in the City today.

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Revelry was no less, in fact, was much more than on Dhulendi. The only major difference today was that colours were splashed by ‘gairs’.

The merriment was marked with traditional ‘gairs’ started some 58 years ago, splashing different colours on the people who came out on the streets to celebrate the festival of colours in large numbers. The traditional ‘gairs’ (a vehicle on which pumps are mounted to spread and splash colours on the revelers) were taken out by the socio-cultural organisations supported by both the BJP and the Congress party.

This year, organisers of Sangam Corner Rangpanchmi Chal Samaroh developed a missile like ‘gair’ splashing colours on the people coming in its way. Tableaux depicting Lord Krishna and Radha in playful mood were the chief attraction at ‘gairs’.

The ‘gairs’ taken out by residents of Malharganj and Tori Corner were once prominent but Phaag yatra introduced by BJP MLA Laxman Singh Gaud has somewhat eclipsed their influence. The Phaag Yatra drenches once and all even as it winds its way through City’s core areas, as 4,000-litre colour made from tesu flower was showered on the street with a perfect blend of ‘gulal’ made from ‘ararot’.

The ‘gairs’ that carried 20 tanker of water, around 25 ton gulal, four tons of flowers and 40 kg colours to splash on people tapping their feet on tunes of DJ music and dhol arranged at many street corners and major roads, covered a distance of around eight km. With celebration at its peak, police administration also took its position to avoid any mishap in the City.