Sings Jogira after tearing his kurta
By Vishwapati
Patna: Like Lalu Prasad Yadav, his eldest son, Tej Pratap Yadav, celebrated Holi today by shredding his kurta. Lalu used to play Holi in Patna by tearing his kurta, but he has stopped doing so in recent years.
Lalu was sometimes in jail and sometimes in the hospital following a kidney transplant, therefore, Holi was not celebrated. This time, Lalu is not playing Holi in Bihar, therefore, there is silence at Rabri’s apartment on 10 Circular Road.
Lalu’s absence has been filled by his elder son, Tej Pratap. Tej Pratap celebrated Holi with party workers and media personnel at his official residence in Patna, much like his father did.
Tej Pratap adopted his father Lalu Prasad Yadav’s style during this period. He brought back old memories of his father. People began talking about how our guru, Lalu Ji, used to celebrate Holi in the same way. He did not celebrate Holi in Patna because of illness. Lalu has travelled to Delhi to celebrate Holi with his family, this time for his granddaughter’s birthday.
Tej Pratap celebrated Holi with workers and media personnel at his official residence in Patna, like Lalu would have done.
We observed Tej Pratap Yadav performing Baba Harihar Nath’s Holi song while holding a “jhal” in the traditional Lalu manner. Then his gaze fell on a child there, who had gone to his house to play Holi without a shirt. Tej Pratap first put Abeer in his face, then grabbed the child in his lap and began singing Holi songs. Tej Pratap looked entirely dressed in Holi colours today. Tej Pratap hosted a Holi Milan ceremony yesterday at his official residence.
A large number of party workers gathered to play Holi with Tej Pratap. Tej Pratap congratulated and wished the entire Bihar people a happy Holi. He also congratulated Patna’s media professionals. Tej Pratap asserted that people are increasingly celebrating elections as festivals. Our Holi is different. There should be something special. Tej Pratap noted that people celebrate Holi with affection once a year.
Katyayani, the granddaughter of Lalu and Rabri Devi, celebrates her birthday on March 27. There are plans to celebrate it with tremendous fanfare in Delhi. Lalu and Rabri had left for Delhi on Sunday to attend their granddaughter’s birthday. Many family members, including Tejashwi Yadav and Misa Bharti, travelled to Delhi yesterday. Before leaving for Delhi, Lalu, Tejashwi, and Misa Bharti wished the people of Bihar a happy Holi. The Lalu family wished the people of the state a merry Holi.
The author is a senior journalist based in Patna
