Gujarat legislators play Holi in assembly complex lawn; Congress MLAs absent

Gandhinagar: Legislators of the Gujarat Assembly today celebrated Holi, the festival of colors in the lawn area of the State assembly. Congress legislators stayed away from the event. The Holi celebration was organized by State assembly Speaker Shankarbhai Chaudhary. He said the event has been organized in response to suggestions made by the legislators, especially tribal legislators.

Large size containers full of water colored using Kesuda tree flowers were kept on the lawn. Varieties of colors were also kept for playing Holi. MoS Home Harsh Sanghavi could be seen as the most playful among all legislators. He would sit on the shoulders of other MLAs, he would use pichkari, and he would rush here and there to pick up those reluctant to get colored. Ellisbridge legislator Amit Popatlal Shah, a strong-built and tall MLA could be seen using his strength and body power to hold MLAs who would be then colored by other MLAs.

According to sources from the assembly secretariat, around 100 kg of kesudo flowers, also known as ‘flame of the forest’ due to its bright red color, were procured for the Dhuleti celebrations inside the assembly complex. In the past, elected MLAs have celebrated Dhuleti outside the assembly building, but this will be the first time that it will be celebrated inside the assembly complex. A shamiana has been erected on the premises for the event. On Monday, Congress leaders declared that they would not participate in the Dhuleti festivities scheduled to take place inside the assembly building premises. DeshGujarat