This story is from March 13, 2015

Holi revelry ends with Ganga Mela

The week-long Holi revelry ended here with Ganga Mela on Thursday. People of all ages and from all walks of life enjoyed throwing colours.
Holi revelry ends with Ganga Mela
KANPUR: The week-long Holi revelry ended here with Ganga Mela on Thursday. People of all ages and from all walks of life enjoyed throwing colours. 'Holi Milan' events were organized at Sarsiyya Ghat where people greeted each other. Over 200 stalls were set up at the ghat. These stalls had been put by political parties, NGOs, private entities and shopkeepers.

Since early morning, crowd was seen in the old city areas like Birhana Road, Hatia, Maniram Bagia and others playing with colours. The markets remained closed. The people were soaked in the spirit of festivities. The children were enjoying the most. They used ‘pichkaris’ to sprinkle colours on their peers. The deserted market places were used by the children in the afternoon to play cricket.
Celebrations were seen in the form of processions in various localities. The revellers threw colours on each other and painted every person red, green and yellow. Rango Ka Thela remained the special attraction which was being pulled by the buffalo cart. Even the fairer sex took part in the Ganga Mela and played with colours while the Rango Ka Thela came.
The procession started from Hatiya and as it reached Birhana Road, the residents of the area threw colours from rooftops on the youth who were passing through and wished them Happy Holi. The youth danced to the tunes of the latest Bollywood numbers. The colour filled 'matkis' hung on Birhana Road were broken by youth.
Meanwhile, the biggest attraction of the day remained Sarsiyya Ghat, which wore a festive look. Representatives from political parties and the district officials gathered there for Holi Mela and Holi Milan Samaroh.
People were seen hugging and wishing each other. Ceremonies of `Holi milan' were also performed by local leaders. Former MP Sriprakash Jaiswal, mayor Jagatveer Singh Drona, Congress MLA Ajay Kapoor, SP MLAs and BJP leaders were present at the ghat. Security was tight at the ghat. District magistrate Roshan Jacob, SSP Shalab Mathur and other administrative officials were present.
In evening, the local retailers and whole-sellers opened their shops on particular Mahurat. People also visited homes of relatives and elderly persons of the family to seek blessings.
Ganga Mela is celebrated every year in the memory of revolutionaries, who were released by British government after being made captive during 1857 revolution.
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