For politicians of Belagavi, Holi is the favourite season. It brings together a cross section of the city, creates an ambience of joy, remains in public memory for a longer time and builds goodwill for the leader among young and first-time voters.
What is more, it is one of the few festivals that arrive in summer, when schools and colleges are closed for vacations.
The public celebrations of the festival of colour organised by political leaders gain even more significance due to the Parliamentary poll season this year.
While some say this consolidation have some political impact, some brush it away as a minor factor in the general elections.
Will these celebrations be repeated this year too? The answer seems to be in the affirmative.
BJP MLA Abhay Patil and Congress MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar will continue to organise the celebrations, their supporters said.
MLA Anjali Nimbalkar, pitted to be among the aspirants for a Congress ticket, will also participate in the Holi celebrations at her house in Khanapur.
Most other MLAs participate in the celebrations in their constituencies.
Mr. Patil has been organising the celebrations for nearly a decade now and Ms. Hebbalkar has done it a couple of times in the past.
Fun time
Mr. Patil and his supporters prepare the open ground before the vaccine depot in Tilakwadi for the celebrations. Enclosures are made for women. Disco jockeys make the crowd dance to the tunes of popular numbers. Police, including women constables, are present in large numbers, every year.
Ms. Hebbalkar organises Holi events for women which attract huge crowds. They celebrate by throwing colours on each other and dance for hours, before leaving. Some snacks and water are served to the participants.
Residents are busy buying colours and toys for the festival in the Old City Market. The whole market is spruced up in colours, indicating the mood.
Holi is celebrated on various dates in different locations in the district later this week.
