Festive cheer marked by road-side ‘chanda’ collections and vibrant street dancing, with celebrations remaining safe despite a minor car crash on SP Road.
Echoing the festive lyric, “Aaj Holi khelbo re Shyam” (Today we will play Holi, oh Shyam), the entire town of Lala was awash in vibrant hues of abir this Wednesday. The Dol festival saw an enthusiastic outpouring of community spirit, with residents spanning all demographics—from young teenagers to elderly men and women—stepping out of their homes to dance to the rhythm of Holi songs and playfully smear each other with colors.
The celebrations began early in the morning, particularly in the various Manipuri settlement areas of the town. Following local festive traditions, groups of teenagers strung ropes across roads at multiple locations to temporarily halt traffic and collect chanda (donations). The roadblocks were met with good-natured compliance from drivers of both small and large vehicles, who cheerfully handed over money with a smile and a polite greeting of “Happy Holi.” Adding to the boundless energy of the younger crowd, local youth were seen joyously roaming the town’s streets on their bikes.
While the festival of colors was celebrated with massive fervor, it concluded on a largely peaceful and safe note. The only disruption to the otherwise smooth festivities occurred on Lala’s SP Road, where an Alto car lost control and crashed into a footpath.
Apart from this isolated mishap, there were no reports of any major untoward incidents throughout the town. For the most part, Wednesday in Lala was defined by the joyous beats of Dol music, peaceful community bonding, and a town completely immersed in the colors of spring.