By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 26 Feb: A Holi Milan function was organised at the Congress State Headquarters in Dehradun today. Senior party leaders and a large number of party workers gathered to celebrate the forthcoming festival of colours with enthusiasm and camaraderie. Pradesh Congress President Ganesh Godiyal, Chakrata MLA Pritam Singh, former Cabinet Minister Harak Singh Rawat and former State President Karan Mahara were among those present on the occasion.
Although the festival of Holi is still a week away, celebrations have begun across the country, and the Congress marked the occasion with a show of solidarity and festive spirit. Senior leaders applied gulal to one another and conveyed a message of love, brotherhood and unity. The programme witnessed vibrant participation, with leaders and workers joining in traditional Holiyar songs rendered by folk singers from Garhwal, which transformed the party headquarters into a festive venue.
A notable aspect of the event was that several senior leaders appeared in traditional tribal ‘Doka’ attire associated with the hills of Uttarakhand, particularly from Chamoli district, symbolically reflecting the cultural diversity of the state. The gesture was seen as an effort to highlight inclusiveness while celebrating the festival.
Among those present at the Holi Milan were Pradesh Congress President Ganesh Godiyal, Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya, Chairman of the Election Management Committee Harak Singh Rawat, Chairman of the Election Campaign Committee Pritam Singh and former State President Karan Mahara. Extending greetings to the people of the state, Godiyal conveyed his best wishes for the festival and expressed hope that it would bring happiness and strengthen social harmony.
Godiyal stated that Holi is not merely a festival of colours but a symbol of communal harmony and brotherhood. He said the festival should bring joy and positivity into the lives of all and urged people to celebrate it by reinforcing bonds of goodwill and mutual respect.
Harak Singh Rawat also greeted the people of the state, stating that the festival should usher in love, prosperity and happiness in everyone’s lives. Karan Mahara observed that in the prevailing circumstances of the country, the importance of such festivals has grown even more significant. He remarked that Holi has traditionally been celebrated as a festival of brotherhood and called for maintaining an atmosphere of harmony without being distracted by divisive tendencies.
With the Uttarakhand Assembly elections scheduled in 2027, both the Congress and the BJP have stepped up organisational activities in preparation for the electoral contest. In this backdrop, the Holi Milan programme was also seen as an occasion for senior leaders and party workers to display unity and strengthen coordination ahead of the forthcoming political challenges.
Pradesh Congress Vice-President Suryakant Dhasmana and several other leaders and workers were also present during the celebrations, which concluded with leaders reiterating their commitment to organisational strength and social harmony.
