People from different walks of life on Tuesday thronged devalayas, naamghars, xatras and temples across Assam to celebrate Holi.
However, the footfall was relatively low at the gatherings, compared to earlier years, owing to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Except for Fancy Bazar here, the spirit of celebration usually experienced at Ganeshguri, Paltan Bazar, Panbazar, Hatigaon, Six Mile, Chandmari, Maligaon and other places, was missing. At Fancy Bazar, hundreds greeted each other with gulal, followed by music and dancing for hours.
Most residents remained confined to their homes and avoided playing with colours at gatherings though the state government had declared a holiday on Tuesday.
Ganeshguri resident Rina Devi said, “We did not want to risk playing with colours in a crowd, even wearing masks. We had planned to visit a temple but avoided that as well. Coronavirus will not distinguish between religious institutions and public places. Wherever there is a crowd, there is a risk of contraction.”
“Customers asked for only herbal and organic colours. Since people celebrated Holi only with dry colours, items like water pumps, plastic masks and hair bands remained unsold. We faced huge losses this time,” Fancy Bazar vendor Mahesh Sahu said. Paltan Bazar vendor Ravi Ram said, “China has pushed the entire world into hell. People are hiding inside their homes in the fear of coronavirus.”
A large number of devotees visited Doul Govinda temple in North Guwahati to attend naam kirtan. Followers of Srimanta Xankardeb played Holi with mud at Garmur Xatra in Upper Assam’s Majuli district. Hundreds of devotees also visited Barpetra Xatra and celebrated Holi with religious fervour.
Lakhimpur deputy commissioner Jeevan B. visited Basudev Than at Dhakuakhana and instructed not to use dry colours and celebrate in gatherings.
Dhakuakhana resident Baidyanath Panyang said: “Basudev Than used to organise Ghunusa Yatra during Holi that attracted thousands of devotees. This year the event was cancelled. We also missed fair stalls.”
At Demow in Sivasagar district, people visited Garakhiya temple, offered prayers and attended naam kirtan as part of Doul Utsav.
Additional reporting by Aurobinda Dey in Demow
