The Ranchi District Administration has made elaborate arrangements for peaceful Sarhul celebration on Monday.
While drones will help the police maintain a vigil on important squares, check posts at all the entry points to Ranchi will prevent heavy vehicles from entering the urban territory, a press communiqué from the district administration said on Sunday.
In a bid to address medical exigencies, the 108 ambulances will remain on alert. Besides, pictures of missing children will be shown on LED vans that will move across the city on the day of the festival.
The District Administration also organised a meeting of the peace committee on Saturday to ensure peaceful celebration of Sarhul and avert any incident of disharmony in the city.
The Sarhul processions, starting from various parts of the city, will culminate at the Sarna Sthal (tribal holy place) at Siramtoli on Monday. Elaborate security arrangements have been made at the Sarna Sthal to maintain law and order, the police said.
Ranchi’s Senior Superintendent of Police, Anish Gupta has made his personal mobile number available to all the organisers of the procession and asked them to inform him in case of any emergency.
“We have got reinforcements from outside the district to ensure foolproof security during Sarhul celebrations. Lost and found centres will be set up at Albert Ekka Chowk and Siramtoli Chowk to ensure that any person who goes missing from the procession can be found easily,” Gupta said.
Deputy Commissioner Rai Mahimapat Ray said that some people had demanded to avoid power cuts during the procession, but the administration cannot do away with the practice of power cuts on Sarhul since there was risk of death by electrocution. Every year, thousands of devotees throng the streets, carrying branches of Sakhua tree and dancing on tribal beats in tandem, to celebrate the tribal festival. Sarhul marks the beginning of spring and is celebrated for three days. On the first day people keep a fast for Mother Nature, the second day is devoted to celebrations, which primarily includes dancing, singing and thanking Mother Nature for providing food to all.
The third day, most popularly known as Phool Khonsai is the day when the flower of Sarai tree is kept in every house, which is expected to bring peace and prosperity for the family. Sarhul puja is also an occasion on which Pahans, the tribal priests assume the rainfall level during the upcoming monsoon. A puja is done a day before Sarhul and two water filled pots are kept at the worship spot. The rainfall is predicted by the level of rise or fall of water in the pots. If the water level decreases, the rainfall is expected to be less and vice versa. The pot will be opened on Monday.