LUCKNOW: The district administration has covered mosques and mazars with tarpaulin sheets falling along the routes of the traditional 'Juta Maar Holi' procession in Shahjahanpur while sprucing up the security for the annual festival, officials said on Monday.
'Juta Mar Holi' is a unique, centuries-old tradition celebrated in Shahjahanpur on the day of Holi, when people hurl shoes at a person dressed as a British-era 'Laat Sahab' and riding on a buffalo cart as the centrepiece, while playing with colours.
As per Shahjahanpur Superintendent of Police Rajesh Dwivedi, along with the deployment of over 200 magistrates, this year's procession would see around one-and-a-half times more security personnel than last year.
Additional District Magistrate (Administration) Rajneesh Kumar Mishra said 48 mosques and mazars along the procession route were completely covered with thick plastic sheets.
As many as 148 lanes opening onto the procession route would be barricaded to prevent sudden crowd surges.
The administration has divided the procession into seven zones with sector and sub-sector arrangements. A total of 136 zonal, sector and static magistrates would supervise proceedings in their respective areas, he said.
Dwivedi said four Additional Superintendents of Police, 13 Circle Officers, 310 sub-inspectors, 1,200 constables and 500 home guards would be deployed for enhanced security on the occasion.
In addition, four companies, each of the Provincial Armed Constabulary and Rapid Action Force, along with a team of the National Disaster Response Force, would also be stationed during the procession the 'Bade Lat Sahab' and 'Chhote Lat Sahab' processions to ensure uninterrupted surveillance, added the SP.
As during the processions last year, some minor incidents were reported and to handle any eventuality, an additional zone was created this time, said Dwivedi adding that for the past month, peace committee meetings involving members of all communities were held at police stations and outposts.
While urging people to celebrate Holi peacefully, Dwivedi said strict action would be taken against those disrupting the procession.
Moreover, according to ADM Mishra 103 magistrates would also be deployed at Holika Dahan sites to oversee rituals. Preventive action, including externment of identified individuals and the opening of history sheets, was also undertaken in view of the event.
The procession begins with prayers at the Phoolmati Devi temple and then proceeds through the city.
A petition, which was filed in the High Court in 1990 seeking a ban on the procession, was dismissed with the court treating it as a long-standing tradition.