Most blocks, complexes and cultural groups are skipping Holi celebrations this year. A handful are tweaking plans to replace colours with cultural programmes or holding just the Holika Dahan and puja. Very few are throwing caution to the wind and celebrating the festival of colours no holds barred.
“This will be the first time in 24 years that we won’t have probhat pheri on Dol,” says Sujit Gupta of the EE Block association. “We usually have about 250 residents taking part in the march and they rehearse for songs and dances from a month in advance. We’ll sorely miss the event this year but then our cultural programmes got called off during the Pujas too. Safety first!”
Soumen Goswami, secretary of CB Block, blames the second strain of coronavirus for the cancellation of their probhat pheri. “Every year we march together, play with colours and eat breakfast in the park. But all this is too risky this year, especially since the event is very popular among senior citizens,” he says.
Holi was the last event Salt Lake Lok Sanskriti held before the lockdown last year and if not for recent rise in Covid cases, they would have held a low-key Holi this year too.
“But how can we enforce social distancing in a festival where colours are to be applied to one another? We also considered holding just a cultural programme in a banquet hall but after making all arrangements, what if no one turned up in fear of Covid?” asks Kamlesh Kejriwal, secretary of the group.
Dancers pose dressed as Lord Krishna and gopis
Compromised celebration
Residents of Uniworld City, in association with Iskcon New Town, on Tuesday held a version of Holi where distancing could somewhat be maintained. It was called “phoolon ki Holi”.
“We got 25kg of flowers and offered the petals to Radha-Krishna. These petals were then showered on dancers as they performed. There were bhajans, chhapan bhog cooked by devotees….” said Annu Bengani, a resident of the complex and one of the organisers. “To maintain Covid protocol we capped the guest list at 150. Many got offended at not being invited but what could we do?”
Salt Lake Sanskritik Sansad has called off its Holi gathering but is going ahead with its Holika Dahan on Sunday night at CB Park. “We shall also have a phulon ki holi at Mewar banquet above Big Bazaar with puja and bhajans. Due to Covid, we don’t expect a large crowd,” says Suresh Gupta of the cultural committee of the group.
AE (Part II) is holding Neda Pora on Satuday, Holika Dahan on Sunday and instead of playing with colours, laying out thandai and snacks for an adda. “This will be strictly minus colours and plus masks,” says secretary Tapas Sengupta. “Residents are stressed because of the pandemic and a festival — held safely — can uplift their mood. ”
BK Block has called off its probhat pheri in the morning and in the evening cut short the duration of its cultral programme and promised dinner only in food packets. “Many residents said they wanted to play, citing how lakhs of people are gathering for political rallies these days. While this is not something the block association endorses, individuals are free to play on their own,” says Chandra Sekhar Bag of the association.
Going all the way
The Mallika Malancha complex in New Town is going ahead with a two-day action-packed festival, like in other years. After Holika Dahan on Saturday night, there will be probhat pheri with songs and dances of the spring and some abir-playing.
Next will be a cultural programme, breakfast of thandai, malpoa etc and full-on colour-playing. In the evening will be a Bollywood Dhamaka dance programme. Community lunch and dinner are part of the package, all though food packets will also be available.
“We are going ahead with these plans as almost everyone in the complex agreed to them,” says Kakoli Saha of Mallika Malancha. “But some, like myself, have opted out of the play with colours and sit-and-eat segments due to Covid fears.”