Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday led one of the biggest marches in Darjeeling in recent times with the chief minister playing traditional instruments like jhamta, damphu and ektara during the walk with thousands along the 4.2km route.

The Telegraph provides a ringside view of the march from near Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan to Darjeeling Motor Stand to protest the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register.

Rally of rallies

The walkathon, several sources said, broke recent records in terms of the crowd. Intelligence sources put the footfall at more than 10,000. “Then add the bystanders who were waiting for hours to see the chief minister lead the rally,” said a police source.

Given the huge turnout, the organisers had to accommodate the marchers at two venues — the open space in front of Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan and the road leading to Chowrasta — before the start of the procession.

Apolitical nature

The fact that not all protesters were from any party — the march was organised by the Trinamul Congress and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s Binay Tamang camp and supported by several hill parties — could be gauged from the presence of Darjeeling bishop Stephen Lepcha and representatives of various social organisations and associations of professionals.

Before the start of the march at 1.15pm, Binay Tamang read out an oath in Nepali and Hindi, which was followed by the crowd, asserting that they would not accept the new citizenship matrix.

Sights and sounds

Bengal minister Indranil Sen sang a bilingual song in Nepali and Bengali denouncing the CAA, NPR and the NRC.

The march also showcased the distinct hill culture with the participants playing traditional instruments like nau-mati baja, damphu, jhamta and ektara. Women were in traditional attire and many men wore Nepali topi. “It was a protest programme but had a celebratory spirit as well,” said a Darjeeling resident.

The moment the march started, Mamata asked for a jhamta from one of the musicians and started playing it during the march. Halfway into the march, the Trinamul chief briefly changed to damphu and ektara and then went back to jhamta till the procession ended at Darjeeling Motor Stand.

Women in traditional attire during the march

Interest in the air

The spectacle managed to attract the attention of the common people. The sight of a chief minister leading a procession in Darjeeling is rare. People had gathered at various places like near Polynia Hotel, Upper Clubside, Kakjhora and Chowk Bazar and lined up along the route to catch a glimpse of the show.

The residents were seen watching the march from the windows and balconies of their homes even as a car packed with sloganeers led the way.

The march converted into a public meeting which was addressed by Mamata, Binay Tamang, former Darjeeling MLA Amar Singh Rai and Bishop Lepcha.