Mast to be raised on March 12 for Jhanda Mela
Dehradun, March 9
The 87-feet-long mast that would bear the flag for the annual Jhanda Mela would be raised on March 12 in the presence of thousands of devotees at the historic Darbar Sahib.




Women pray before the mast to be erected during the Jhanda Mela at Guru Ram Rai Darbar in Dehradun on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Mussoorie, March 9
The Hindu festival of colours, Holi, that marks the statrt of spring, was celebrated across Mussoorie and Garhwal regions with fervour yesterday.

The streets presented a riot of colours where the revellers accompanied by the beating of drums thronged the main roads of villages and towns, greeting each other by throwing colours on each other’s faces.

In Mussoorie the youth were seen breaking the earthen pot filled with milk and curd hung high on a rope at Library and Kulri Bazaar. The tradition is performed to pay obeisance to Lord Krishna, who was also fond of the festival, according to Hindu mythology.

The streets presented a riot of colours with revellers, dancing to the accompaniment of drums, thronging lanes and bylanes to celebrate Holi, which passed off peacefully.

The supporters of political parties, forgetting all rancour and old grievances, exchanged embraces, wishing "Happy Holi" as unseen hands squirted them with a well-timed coloured water spray. The politicians were also seen mingling with commoners on the occasion.

For children it was a day filled with fun as they hurled water-filled balloons from rooftops chanting “Holi hai."

The police administration remained alert in Mussoorie the whole day as the police personnel kept a close watch on any nuisance activity.

Elsewhere, in the villages and small hamlets of Garhwal, barring a few incidents, the festival was celebrated with full gusto and bonhomie.

The school children entered into a scuffle with commuters near Karnprayag on Rishikesh-Badrinath highway on the issue of demanding “Holi” money from every passing vehicle by placing blockades. The situation could have turned ugly but the senior members of the village salvaged the situation after light scolding and explanations.

Dehradun, March 9
The 87-feet-long mast that would bear the flag for the annual Jhanda Mela would be raised on March 12 in the presence of thousands of devotees at the historic Darbar Sahib.

“The flag hoisting ceremony would be presided over by Mahant Devender Das amid elaborate religious ceremonies. After three years the mast is being changed,” said Vishnu Kumar Nautiyal, PRO of Guru Ram Trust.

At a press conference today, Nautiyal said according to tradition, the mast arrives a day after Holi. “On the same day the first sangat comprising devotees from neighbouring states of Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh also reaches the Darbar Sahib,” said Nautiyal.

To provide foolproof security at the Darbar Sahibh, a total of 30 CCTV cameras and 4 metal and hand-held detectors would be put in place on the premises.

The nagar parikarima would be held on March 14. When the sangat starts going back, it is given a warm send-off by the Mahant Devinder Das.

A total of 250 shops would be set up for the mela, that would take place in the vicinity of the Darbar Sahib and Matawalabagh.

In the next two days, the sangat would begun sewing white cotton, satin and darshani cloth, which is offered at the Darbar Sahib. The clothes are used to cover the mast on which the flag is hoisted. Unlike last year, the mast will not be removed.

More than 1,000 covers made of thin muslin cloth measuring 26-metre long and 1.5-meter wide would adorn Jhanda Sahib. These are laboriously stitched and offered for wish-fulfilment and thanksgiving.

Dehradun, March 9
The RIMC Inter-Section Boxing Competition began today with a total of 14 bouts taking place on the first day.

In the 36-39 weight category, Seoul Tripathi beat Ayush Rawat and Arjun Thakur beat Kamlendra. In the 42-45 weight category, L Zote beat Mrigank Shekhar and Mridul Rawat beat Mukul Ale.

In the 45-48 weight category, Muzeeb beat A Khajuria and Vijay beat Neeraj. In the 51-54 weight category, Dika beat Aurobindo and Avinash C beat Abhishek Kundalia.

In the 54-57 weight category, Vishrut Rawal beat Rishav Raj and K Kobing beat Lulu. In the 57-60 category, Raushan beat Vikram and in the 63-66 category, Harsh beat Akash.

Earlier inaugurating the event, chief guest Commandant RIMC Col Pankaj K Kumaria greeted the participants. The coordinators of the competition were Wg Cdr SK Thapliyal, Birjesh Chauhan and Neeraj Negi.

The judges for the competition were Hav Achinto Roy, Hav AD Bhonsale, Hav Chaudhari Dev, Hav Vincent kit. The referees for the bouts were L Naik Ranjan Rai, L Naik GB Thapa. Thrity students and two teachers from Purukul Youth Society also came to witness the event.

Pithoragarh, March 9
Cultural enthusiasts across the Kumaon region have expressed concern over the Holi celebrations in the region losing its traditional form.

According to them, the festival has lost its form not only in the classical music but also in the context of social harmony, as the Holi played in recent times has been reduced to an ugly show of money and power.

“Because this year Holi fell right after the election results, the Holi Milan in Almora has been affected by the politics. People gathered only at the residences of those who have won the elections,” said Naveen Bisht, a poet and an Almora-based journalist.

According to traditional Holi singers, earlier people used to visit every house to bless families on the festival, but in recent years people prefer to celebrate it individually.

“The traditional forms of music are also facing a neglect during Hoil. Now people prefer to perform individually rather than being a part of a singing group,” said Bisht.

Besides losing social harmony, the Kumaoni Holi is going in the grip of liquor and other toxics. “At present, no Holi singers is expected to visit a residence if he is not offered liquor,” said Shankar Pandey, a social worker and a Holi singer in Champawat town.

In the recent times it has been observed that villagers across the Kumaon region do not now show much enthusiasm on Holi. Smearing one another with colour has now been reduced to a mere formality.

Dehradun, March 9
The EMRI-108 emergency services received a record number of calls on Holi. The Emergency Response Center received as many as 7500 calls from different parts of the state, out of which 903 were emergency calls.

According to GVK EMRI officials, the staff was kept busy attending emergencies in different parts of the state that outnumbered the total number of calls received on ordinary days.

The Dehradun district topped the list in the total number of emergency calls received. “There were a total of 41 road accidents and the ambulance managed to deport 125 pregnant women to hospitals for deliveries.

A total of six ambulances were pressed into service in Dehradun,” said Manish Tinku, Head of operations (Uttarakhand).

The ambulance deployed at Clock Tower rendered services in 17 cases, the one stationed received at Jakhan 14 calls, the one stationed at ISBT 10, at Rispana 14, Premnagar 13 and the Raipur ambulance attended to a total of 13 cases.

"It was a very busy day for us and the pressure was immense. However, we managed to perform our duties well," said Sheeshpal Kaithat Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).