By IANS,
New Delhi : Several supporters of activist Anna Hazare played Holi for the second time this year as they smeared gulal on each other and danced to drum beats Saturday amid a carnival like atmosphere at Jantar Mantar here when the veteran Gandhian ended his 97-hour fast-unto-death against corruption.
Hazare called off his fast after the government’s declaration to introduce a more stringent anti-graft law in the monsoon session of parliament.
Central Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, ground zero of the movement against corruption, was buzzing with activity since early morning as the announcement of Hazare’s decision to call off his fast was made Friday night.
Apart from the numerous posters and banners, some supporters painted slogans supporting the veteran Gandhian on their bodies and clothes.
Toddlers holding the national flag were seen sitting on their fathers’ shoulders trying to catch a glimpse of Hazare.
People started to gather near Hazare’s fast venue since 9 a.m. They sang songs like ‘Bharat humko jaan se pyara hai’ and hymns like ‘Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram’. Some in the gathering blew trumpets and conch shells.
As the septuagenarian took a few sips of juice offered to him by a little girl around 10.50 a.m., the gathering of thousands erupted with joy smearing gulal on each other and showering rose petals.
National flags of all sizes could be seen all around. Some held and waved the tricolours in their hands while others draped the flags across their shoulders.
Loud cheers of ‘Yeh to bas angdai hai, baaki abhi ladai hai’ (This is just a yawn, a battle is to be fought) ‘Anna nahi andhi ho tum, desh ke dusre Gandhi ho tum’ (Anna you are like a storm, the second Gandhi of India) reverberated in the air.
‘Forget IPL (Indian Premier League) join ACL – Anna’s Anti-Corruption League’ read one of the posters, while yet another said: ‘Sorry IPL, it’s time for IAC – India Against Corruption’.
“I have been coming here for last five days and today (Saturday) I am here to celebrate people’s victory with Anna Hazare. I feel that Jantar Mantar is the holiest place in the country as people have come here to pray for the well-being of the country,” said Smita Garg, a school teacher.
“I was constantly supporting the movement. Anna Hazare’s successful agitation is the victory of democracy,” said an ecstatic Sudersh Adhikaro, a shopkeeper.
Arun Bhoj, 32, a marketing executive, said: “I am very inspired by Gandhian principles as they are relevant even today. A sole man following Gandhian principles has made the Indian government bow…this is the power of democracy.”
“Usually we have a tendency to crib that things are not fine like traffic and water shortage. Anna Hazare’s success is an inspiration for all of us and we should learn a lesson from it,” said a homemaker.
A large number of police personnel was deployed at the site.