Lucknow: Amid shouts of Holi hai (it is Holi), a large number of Hindus and Muslims came together in Lucknow for a 40-year-old practice of jointly celebrating the festival of colours in the old quarter on Wednesday.
Dancing to the beat of drums, the revellers assembled around 1000 hrs IST for the procession that began from the Koneshwar temple, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Lalji Tandon told IANS.
People walked for about four kilometres.
"Holi baraat sets an example of communal harmony," Tandon added.
A resident of Chowk locality, Tandon has been taking part in the function for the last 40 years.
The night before, Muslims in the area collected heaps of rose petals and garlands that were showered on Hindus as they arrived for the celebrations on Wednesday, residents said.
"In response we (Hindus) garlanded them and exchanged pleasantries. This is how we have been celebrating Holi for years," said one of the organisers, Anurag Mishra.
The procession passed through various localities of Old Lucknow as more and more people joined it.
"Throughout the route, Holi Milans were organised where sweets and special paan were offered to the revellers," said one of the residents, Shabi Haider.
The multi-community procession has not been discontinued even once during the past 40 years.
"Even when there was communal tension following the demolition of the Babri Masjid (in 1992), Holi in the Chowk area was celebrated with usual gaiety and gusto," added another resident, Ritesh Dwivedi.
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