Lalu Prasad lived up to tradition, playing his trademark ‘kapdaphar’ Holi with supporters to the singing of traditional Bhojpuri songs and drum beats at his residence .
Though reluctant, the minister lived up to his “cloth-tearing” style
PATNA: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad lived up to tradition, playing his trademark ‘kapdaphar’ (cloth-tearing) Holi with supporters to the singing of traditional Bhojpuri songs and drum beats at his residence here on Saturday.
Although initially reluctant, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief was ultimately forced by his supporters and party workers to play kapdaphar Holi. He was not ready to play the boisterous style of Holi, and had decided to keep the celebrations to only splashing of colours and singing songs. “First, we tore his clothes and after that he tore the clothes of some of us, leading to the kapdaphar Holi,” said Mithlesh Kumar, a Lalu Prasad supporter.
RJD chief had firmly told his supporters that he intended playing Holi in a more subdued manner, disappointing hundreds of his supporters as well as the dozen-odd TV newspersons gathered there to film the scenes.
“I will play Holi with all of you but not kapdaphar,” Prasad said.
Some of his supporters smeared his face with coloured powder. Then Lalu Prasad, who was clad in a white kurta and pyjama, was drenched in coloured water by his supporters.
Lalu also sang traditional Bhojpuri songs to drum beats. “Don’t put dry coloured power. Keep it away. These are not safe for the skin. Apply only herbal coloured powder,” he advised supporters and party workers.
“Lalu Prasad becomes a common man when he plays Holi. It is his rare quality,” said Shyam Rajak, RJD national spokesperson.
“It is Holi with a difference. Lalu met us like a friend, joined in the singing and loudly chatted with everybody,” said Khurshid Alam Siddiquee, another RJD leader.
Rabri Devi also joined in the revelry. “We enjoyed thandai, bhang and sweets. It was a Lalu Holi,” said Nandu Singh, a businessman and Lalu supporter. Like Diwali, the market on Holi too was flooded with popular Lalu water spray guns and
other items.
The railway minister is known for tearing off clothes of party leaders, including ministers, officials and people who visit him on Holi day. He also used to enjoy ‘launda nach’ (men dancing in female attire) on the occasion.
During their 15 years’ rule in Bihar, Lalu Prasad and Rabri would host a big Holi party every year except in the year when he was in jail on charges of involvement in the fodder scam in the late 90s. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar did not celebrate Holi as he lost his wife last year.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}