Drenched in a myriad of colours

Thousands celebrate Ranga Panchami in Hubballi

The streets of Hubballi were agog with colours and Kamanna ‘burning’ during Ranga Panchami on Monday.

Yet again, the streets of Hubballi got soaked in myriad colours as the city celebrated Ranga Panchami (celebrations on the fifth day after the Holi festival) with fervour on Monday.

Later in the day, a sudden downpour provided the much-needed respite from the heat. Despite vehicular restrictions and “no man’s land” that come up in the city during the festival, people of different age groups — from toddlers to senior citizens —came out in large numbers, sprayed colours, beat drums, blew trumpets and danced their heart out.

For the revellers, the restrictions, the barricades, the heavy deployment of police and the Rapid Action Force personnel hardly mattered. With the central business district remaining closed till the evening hours, the revellers had a field day moving from one locality to another boisterously greeting everyone and spraying and smearing colours on their acquaintances.

Unlike in the previous years, this year the city roads witnessed more young girls on motorbikes. Just like the boys used to do all these years, the girls had their own groups moving from one locality to another. It was a common sight to see one girl riding a motorcycle and the other girl blowing “desi whistles” custom-made specifically for the festival. A few girls riding pillion were seen beating the “halage” (drum). In the extension areas apart from the youngsters and children, girls and women in groups visited houses greeting their acquaintances and friends and smearing colour on their faces. Senior citizens too had their share of enjoyment and they played Holi after assembling near parks and places of worship in their respective localities.

In the Kamaripet and surrounding areas of Hubballi where there is always a grand celebration of Holi, children armed with “pichkaris”, water guns and water balloons were a common sight. And, young girls waiting on balconies and rooftops splashed colour on passers-by.

At various locations, members of the Muslim community too took part in the celebrations and welcomed the processions of idols taken out as part of Holi and garlanded the leaders. For those who could afford to pay in thousands, there were Holi celebrations at a few hotels in the city. However, rain dances on several streets attracted more crowds then the ticketed versions.

Residents missed the “Hubballi Halagi Habba” this time in the wake of State mourning following Minister C.S. Shivalli’s demise. However, several troupes of folk artistes playing the “halage”, “thamate”, “jaggalige” made Ranga Panchami lively with their exuberant performances.

As it has been a practice, after the idols of Kamanna were taken out in processions, women and girls performed puja. Subsequently, the effigies were burnt. The process of “burning” Kamanna went on till late in the evening and the celebrations concluded peacefully.