Authorities in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, have taken extraordinary precautionary measures ahead of the annual ‘Juta Maar Holi’ procession, covering mosques and mazars along the event route with tarpaulin sheets to safeguard religious sites and maintain communal harmony.
The centuries‑old tradition, unique to this region, involves a lively and unconventional Holi celebration in which participants play with colours and symbolically hit a man dressed as the British‑era figure Laat Sahab with footwear while he rides a buffalo cart through the town. Given the intensity of the festivities and the potential for accidental splashes of colour or objects near sensitive structures, officials said tarpaulins were placed over about 48 mosques and mazars located along the roughly eight‑kilometre procession route.
In addition to covering religious sites, the district administration has significantly ramped up security. More than 200 magistrates will be on duty, and overall security personnel presence is about one‑and‑a‑half times greater than last year, according to police officials. The deployment includes multiple layers of law enforcement, such as sub‑inspectors, constables, home guards and specialised forces, alongside over 100 solar‑powered CCTV cameras installed to provide uninterrupted surveillance, even in areas without reliable electricity.
Officials explained that these precautions follow reports of minor incidents during last year’s festivities. To prevent crowd surges and manage the large turnout of participants and spectators, barricades have been erected on 148 lanes opening onto the route, and the procession area has been divided into seven zones for better oversight. Meetings of peace committees with members of various communities were also held in the lead‑up to the event to encourage a peaceful celebration.
Authorities have appealed to residents and visitors alike to enjoy the festival responsibly and warned that any acts of disruption or attempts to target religious sites would be dealt with firmly, aiming to ensure that this distinctive local tradition continues without incident.
