With ‘Gulal’ and countless Colours Holi was celebrated with traditional zeal and zest across the Coal and Steel belt of Dhanbad-Bokaro in Jharkhand on Monday.
Members of Bokaro Press Club celebrated the occasion in a fascinating way; DC Bokaro Rai Mahimapat Ray, DIG Saket Singh, SP Y S Ramesh, MLA Bokaro Viranchi Narayan along with hundreds of people of the elite class participated in the ‘Holi Meet’ organised by the Bokaro Press Club at Hotel Hans Regency. They greats each other besides smearing gulal on other’s faces; rejoiced the meet.
Except few no untoward incidents were reported in the twin cities on this eve. Revellers of the duo districts from all age groups smeared ‘Gulal’, splashed Colour balloons on each other and exchanged sweets as a mark of the festivity unity and brotherhood.
People visited friends and relatives, gifted sweets, smeared gulal on other’s faces while children enjoyed the day most by spraying coloured water using water guns and water-filled balloons on others.
District police made tight security arrangements. Cops were deployed on each and every nooks and corner across the twin cities. Warning against hooliganism in the guise of revelry was already issued in Bokaro.
While on the other hand fearing from natural calamity holi did not paly in Durgapur village in Bokaro district from past 159 years. The village Durgapur is situated at the bank of “Khanjo” river, between the hilly areas of Kashmar block about 45 kilometres from the district headquarter of Bokaro.
There is no colour for more than seven thousand people of the village. The colorless Holi seems to be fate of the village. Though there is no logical account behind the very fear of the people of this area that celebrating Holi will bring bad omen for them including natural calamity and death in the village.
Amidst all boozers, tipplers and occasional drinkers, much enjoyed the festivity, liquor sale ranked top this holi; sold in ‘black’ in Bokaro.
The traditional drink bhang found losing its charm this holi. More and more people found opting for liquor over the traditional drink. Liquor sale ranked top, sold in ‘black’ in a bid to sets the mood to make a splash with colours. All brands sold for as high as 30 to 40 percent from its print price here.
“There is no control over the market, we are forced to pay the high price as its Holi”, said Ritesh a tippler.
“We have tried to contact Excise Commissioner in this concern but he did not pick up his mobile and later switched off his mobile”, said Deepak Chowrasia another buyer. “I have purchased a full bottle of Whisky and forced to pay Rs 250 higher than normal days”, said Vinod a resident of City Center Bokaro.
Meanwhile, liquor sellers have their own plea; “we are compelled to sale it on higher price as we have to make liquors free (in boxes) to the Government officials, police officials including DSP, OC of local police station as well as scribes too during Holi”, said a liquor seller on anonymity.
“In a bid to manage our loss we have to sale on higher price. Though we have paid additional Rs 1 lakhs per shop to the Excise officials for the same”, said another seller.
Besides on authorised shops, liquor also goes on sale through different sweets and bettle shops in Bokaro on the higher price, said Krishna another buyer.
The Excise department sources said that there was an impressive increase in liquor supply and sales during Holi. “There was an approximate 35 percent increase in liquor sale during this festival, as compared to daily sales”, he added.
