As Uttar Pradesh prepares to celebrate Holi on Friday, which coincides with the holy month of Ramzan and the offering of Friday prayers (Jumma), the state administration is leaving no stone unturned to ensure communal harmony and peaceful celebrations.
To prevent any tension between the two communities, the government, in coordination with religious leaders, has made special arrangements, including altering the timing of Friday prayers and enhancing security across the state.
In a precautionary measure, the Uttar Pradesh Police have directed authorities to cover mosques with tarpaulin in most districts where Holi processions pass through sensitive areas. So far, 189 mosques have been covered with tarpaulin across UP. The move aims to prevent any untoward incident and maintain religious harmony during the festivities. In Sambhal district, where communal tension has flared up in the past, the administration has covered at least ten mosques with tarpaulin to avoid any damage during Holi processions. The district is considered sensitive due to its demographic composition and history of communal clashes.
Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Pensia emphasised that robust security arrangements are in place. Multiple peace committee meetings have been held, and 27 Quick Response Teams (QRTs) have been deployed in sensitive areas. The city has been divided into six zones and 29 sectors, each overseen by a magistrate and senior police officer. PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) battalions have been stationed as part of a three-tier security plan. To enhance monitoring, 250 CCTV cameras have already been installed, with an additional 100-150 cameras set up for real-time surveillance. Drone technology is also being used to track movements in crowded areas. Similarly, in Shahjahanpur, mosques
located on the routes of Holi processions have also been covered to prevent any provocative incidents.
To further ease the situation, the Shahi Imam of Lucknow’s Eidgah, Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, announced that Friday prayers will be offered at 2 pm instead of the usual 12:45 pm. This decision has been welcomed by Muslim religious leaders across the state, including Ayodhya, where the chief cleric has also decided to conduct namaz after 2 pm.
The Uttar Pradesh Police have issued strict guidelines, urging citizens to celebrate Holi in a peaceful manner and avoid any new traditions that could spark tension. Additional police forces have been deployed in sensitive areas, and drone surveillance will be conducted in districts like Kanpur, Aligarh and Meerut to monitor crowd movement. Yogi Adityanath has appealed to people to respect each other’s religious sentiments. “Holi comes once a year, but Friday prayers is held every week. Those who wish to avoid the festive chaos can offer prayers at home,” he said.
The administration is also keeping a close watch on social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and inflammatory content. With these proactive measures, the state hopes to celebrate Holi and Friday prayers in an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood.