Why is Sambhal’s Jama Masjid covered with tarpaulin sheets? | (Photo Courtesy: X/@ANI)
Uttar Pradesh: Ahead of Holi, which coincides with the Islamic holy month of Ramzan this year, the Uttar Pradesh administration covered 10 mosques, including Sambhal’s historic Jama Masjid, with plastic and tarpaulin sheets.
The move comes after some BJP leaders and officials ‘advised Muslims to stay indoors’ if they object to colours during the festival. In response, Zafar Ali, president of the Shahi Jama Masjid, announced that Friday prayers on March 14 would be held at 2:30 PM due to Holi celebrations and urged both communities to maintain harmony.
Why Have Mosques Been Covered With Tarpaulin?
In Shahjahanpur, mosques along the route of the traditional ‘Laat Saheb’ Holi procession have been covered with tarpaulins, and strict security measures have been implemented.
A unique 18th-century tradition, the celebration begins with revellers throwing footwear at a man impersonating ‘Laat Saheb’—a British Lord—seated on a bullock cart.
To maintain order, the local administration has set up barricades along the route and installed multiple CCTV cameras. Superintendent of Police Rajesh S stated that out of the city’s 18 Holi processions, the two major ‘Laat Saheb’ processions have been divided into three zones and eight sectors, with around 100 magistrates deployed for security.
Tight Security In Shahjahanpur
To prevent any disturbances during the ‘Laat Saheb’ Holi celebrations, police have taken preventive action against 2,423 individuals. Superintendent of Police Rajesh S told PTI that the security deployment includes 10 circle officers, 250 sub-inspectors, around 1,500 police personnel, and two companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC).
Additional paramilitary forces have also been stationed in districts such as Mathura, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Rampur, Aligarh, Agra, Kanpur, Gonda, Bahraich, and Siddharthnagar to maintain order.
To manage the aftermath of the celebrations, two tractor trolleys will accompany the procession to collect discarded shoes, torn clothes, and other waste. A sky lift will also be included, and video monitoring will be conducted at 16 police picket points, with live surveillance in place.
Why Is ‘Laat Saheb’ Celebrated?
Vikas Khurana, a historian from Swami Sukhdevanand College, told PTI that the tradition dates back to 1728, when Nawab Abdullah Khan, after returning from Farrukhabad, played Holi with the locals, turning it into an annual event. Reportedly, in 1930, camel carts became part of the procession, and over time, its format evolved.
He further told the news agency that in 1990s, a petition was filed in the High Court to halt the procession, but the court ruled in favor of continuing the tradition, acknowledging its historical significance.
