Yet again, Hubballi gets soaked in myriad colours as Rangapanchami celebrated with fervour

Yet again, Hubballi got soaked in myriad colours as people of all age groups came out in large numbers to celebrate Rangapanchami (celebrated on the fifth day after the Full Moon), as part of the Holi on Saturday.

A huge crowd, including children, youths, couples, and elederly, turned up to celebrate the festival with fervour, applying colours and exchanging greetings. In extension areas of the city, people celebrated the festival of colour in groups with loud music and rain dance.

A large number of women taking part in the Rangapanchami celebrations in Hubballi on Saturday.
| Photo Credit:
KIRAN BAKALE

Various youth organisations and management companies had organised DJ music and rain dance that attracted a huge crowd. Young revellers swarmed these places dancing to their hearts’ content.

The Rangotsvava organised at Tolanakere attracted youngsters in large numbers. Till late afternoon, the revellers enjoyed the rain dance and music. Many revellers were also seen making reels and capturing videos of the celebrations.

Some revellers wore festive masks and blew colourful mini trumpets, adding to the mood of the celebrations. Some donned bizarre wigs and masks. The police personnel also ended up getting soaked in myriad colours as revellers threw colours at them.

As a precautionary measure, the Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner had imposed prohibitory orders in sensitive areas and barricaded some road stretches blocking the movement of vehicles and revellers.

Shops and commercial establishments remained closed for the day. In the central business district, street vendors, sugarcane juice stall, mobile ice cream parlours enjoyed brisk business.

While children celebrated the festival with friends of their age in their respective localities, young and middle-aged couples were seen roaming around on their motorcycles visiting various localities where celebrations were vibrant. In Vidyanagar and adjoining areas, a large number of girls were seen participating in the celebrations.

In certain localities of Old Hubballi, the music of traditional drums like Halagi, Jaggaligi, and Tamate were heard as revellers went around playing them with energy.

There and the central business district, members of the Muslim community joined in the celebrations by welcoming the Kamanna processions and playing Holi with their Hindu brethren.

As has been the practice, the celebrations concluded with the processions of the idols of Kamanna (Lord Manmatha) and Rati being taken out before setting effigies of Kamanna on fire. The celebrations concluded peacefully barring stray instances of verbal duels among the revellers.

Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar and other senior officials monitored the security arrangements.