Holi celebrations coincide with Friday prayers during Ramzan, raising security concerns in North Indian cities. Sambhal, which witnessed riots last year, sees heightened security measures.
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00:00After a 46-year hiatus, the Kartikeya Mahadev Temple in Khagusarai, Sambhal witnessed vibrant
00:05Holi celebrations on March 13. The temple, which had remained closed since the 1978 communal riots,
00:10was reopened in December 2024, marking a significant moment for the local community.
00:15Holi, the festival of colours and harmony, hit by communal divide.
00:34This year, the festivities coincide with Friday Namaz and that too during Ramzan,
00:42raising concerns about security. In Sambhal, 10 mosques, including the disputed site,
00:53have been covered. The Sambhal town in Uttar Pradesh has seen riots last year during a
01:01court-mandated survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid that the Hindu side calls the Harihar Temple.
01:08The security forces conducted a flag march in Sambhal on Thursday, a day before Holi.
01:38A police officer in Sambhal had recently suggested that Muslims stay home during
01:47celebrations if they had a problem with colours, triggering a massive controversy.
02:08Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the India Today conclave
02:17backed the police officer.
02:21Some clerics however, criticise the actions of the administration.
02:51But security concerns are not restricted to Sambhal alone.
03:18A mosque in Kanpur postponed the Friday prayers to evening. Police have tightened security in
03:26cities across North India, including Lucknow, Indore, Trayagraj, Gautam Budnagar in the
03:34National Capital region and of course the National Capital Delhi. A festival that's
03:44been celebrated for centuries, a shining example of religious coexistence in India
03:51is today unfortunately under a cloud of communal tensions.