Amidst the panic surrounding COVID-19 pandemic, city markets are all set to celebrate eco-friendly Holi this year and spreading message of peace and harmony. Shops are decked-up with colourful stuffs prior to the festival of colours ‘Holi’ (Holika Dahan and Dhuredi). People from every section of the society and different communities started preparations to celebrate Holi in their own ways.

 

Along with the preparations, several organisations and individuals also creating public awareness for avoiding the use of artificial chemical-based and synthetic colours for avoiding ill effects on health and environment and motivating people to use natural colours and enjoy eco friendly Holi celebrations. District administration and Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC) are creating public awareness for avoiding public gatherings and celebrating the festival of colours at homes to check the spread of the infectious virus in the city. Administration has restricted the gathering of maximum five persons during Holika Dahan and banned the public gathering for Holi celebration.

 

On the other hand, the markets seen decorated with several colours, caps, masks, water guns, artificial wigs and moustaches and stalls of ready-made traditional dishes. Traditional market places like Bada Phuhara, Miloniganj, Galgala, Sarafa and adjoining markets are fully geared up for alluring utmost number of customers and prepared for witnessing enthusiastic crowd with frequent visit of customers. Likewise previous years, this year took markets are decorated with varieties of ‘Pichkaris’, ‘Gulal’ and several other attractive stuffs.

 

In order to maintain law and order arrangements, the District Administration has issued prohibitory orders for avoiding the use of DJ and any provocative act while district police are all set to maintain law and order arrangements with deployment of additional security forces. Police have already started bond-over of history sheeters and listed criminals and taking precautionary measures for avoiding any kind of untoward incident during the festival.