News Analysis India

Tag: Holi 2021

  • TMC candidate Madan Mitra celebrates Holi with BJP nominees on Hooghly river

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Sinking political differences, Trinamool Congress candidate and maverick politician Madan Mitra on Sunday celebrated Holi with three actors-turned-BJP nominees on board a vessel on river Hooghly.

    Mitra, the TMC candidate from Kamarhati constituency, celebrated the festival of colours with Payel Sarkar, Srabonti Chatterjee and Tanushree Chakraborty, who are contesting the West Bengal assembly elections on BJP tickets from Kolkata’s Behala East and Behala West seats and Howrah’s Shyampur respectively.

    Singing popular Holi-special Bengali song, ”Khelbo Holi rong debona…”, Mitra said, “They are my friends. We have known each other for many years. There shouldn”t be any politics on Holi. I invited them and they are here.”

    TMC’s Candidate Madan Mitra enjoys Bengali Holi with BJP candidates Payel Sarkar, Srabani Chatterjee and Tanusree Chakraborty..Let’s enjoy together…Let’s spread Love together…#BengalElection2021#BengalElections2021 pic.twitter.com/1EfjYJMIy9
    — Shashi S Singh (@Morewithshashi) March 28, 2021

    “Political differences should not overshadow our personal relations. We can have different political ideologies but we are all together on Holi, which speaks of amity and harmony. This is the culture of West Bengal,” he added.

    Tanushree said, “I was on a campaign trail till yesterday but today, I have taken a break.”

    Srabonti and Payel also called for forgetting political differences and celebrating the festival.

    They also shook a leg with Mitra and smeared colours on each other.

    In other parts of the state, too, many candidates including actor Rudranil Ghosh and filmmaker Raj Chakraborty celebrated the festival while campaigning in their respective constituencies. 

  • Meghalaya bans public celebrations of Holi amid rising COVID cases

    By ANI
    SHILLONG: The Meghalaya government on Thursday issued a new Standard operating procedure (SOP) for Holi celebrations amid the recent spike in COVID-19 cases wherein it banned public celebrations of the festival.

    “SOP for Holi celebrations issued by the Home (Political) Department, Government of Meghalaya. 25th March 2021,” the Department of Information and Public Relations of the state tweeted.

    “Person above 65 years of age, persons with comorbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home. Individuals must maintain a minimum distance of five feet in public places, use of face-masks is mandatory along with proper hand sanitisation, social distancing,” the order read.

    The installation and the use of the Aarogya Setu app is also mandatory.

    “Public celebrations and gatherings/congregations are not permitted in public places/ public grounds/public parks/markets/religious places. Playing with colours should be restricted to family members only and within people’s homes. Playing of colours and/or congregations shall not be allowed on the public road or roadside and there shall be no obstruction on any path/roads/thoroughfare. In case of private celebrations, the number of persons inside the venue/private premises shall be restricted in accordance with the order issued by Home (Political) Department dated February 2, wherein the maximum number of persons in any private gathering is restricted to 75 per cent of the seating capacity,” the order continued to read.

    It also stated that legal action will be taken against violators as per the relevant laws. Persons with a history of inter-state travel should strictly follow the latest COVID-19 protocol, the new SOP states.