Khichdi for dalits with saffron tinge

VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi relished khichdi at the residence of his cabinet colleague Ram Vilas Paswan on Wednesday and the saffron brigade in his constituency is eyeing dalit community to expand its network. Local RSS workers organised a feast and offered khichdi to residents of Dalit Basti in Bhullanpur area on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on Thursday.They also held a ‘shakha’ involving adults and children before the feast.
“We were seen such a feast for the first time,” Jarawati Devi, a native of Dalit Basti in Rohania assembly segment of Varanasi said. “The khichdi cooked with cauliflower and spices was delicious,” she said adding that about 300 residents, including women and children enjoyed the feast.
Before the feast, RSS members also held a ‘shakha’, fluttering a saffron flag (Bhagawa Dhwaj) in the midst of an open ground on the occasion. They recited a prayer "Namaste Sada Vatsale Matrubhoome" (My salutation to you, loving Motherland). “We were told that all Hindus should stand united,” she said, adding: “Hum pudhe-likhe nahi hain, kuchh jyada samajh mein nahi aya, (We are not literate, hence we failed to understand what they mean).”
“It was not a ‘shakha’ but a prayer was held before the feast,” Krishnachandra, Zila Pracharak of RSS, said. The main objective of holding ‘Sahbhoj’ (feast) was to create an atmosphere of social harmony involving the people of dalit community, he said. “Such feast was also organised at 40-50 places in the district,” he added.
The Sangh has popularised the observance of six national festivals of social significance that include Varsha Pratipada or Hindu New Year; Hindu Samrajya Dinotsav on Jyeshtha Shuddha Trayodashi, commemorating the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji; Gurupooja on Ashadha Poornima, Raksha Bandhan on Shravana Poornima, Vijayadashami on Ashwayuja Shuddha Dashami and Makara Sankranti.