Lakhanpur Dussehra to be celebrated today

Bilaspur: Dussehra was celebrated across the country on Tuesday but it will be celebrated in Lakhanpur block of Surguja district on Wednesday. The tradition of celebrating the festival a day later is being practised in Lakhanpur since 1942. This year, however, police are extra cautious and have made elaborate security arrangements for Dussehra festivities at the mini stadium, as Muslims will also be observing Muharram on Wednesday.
Keeping in view that both Dussehra and Muharram are on same day, police convened a meeting of members of both communities. The meeting also discussed routes to be taken for Dussehra procession by Hindus and that of tazias by Muslims. Members of both communities have given their word that they will ensure that peace prevails.
Incidentally, Lakhanpur in Surguja district celebrates Dussehra a day after the rest of India while residents of Amarpur village panchayat of Korea district in Surguja division play Holi five days prior to it being celebrated across the country.
While the tradition of celebrating Dussehra a day later is being practised since 1942, no one knows when the tradition of celebrating Holi in Amarpur began. What is known is that this tradition began because of superstition. Residents believe that if they celebrate Holi on the day it actual falls, it will cause an unnatural death in the village. This fear has become so deep rooted that no one of the said village dares to go against the tradition.