Holi To Colour Up 68 Pilgrimage Sites For The First Time in Sambhal With Tight Security in Place

Sambhal: This year in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, Holi celebrations are set to spread in an unprecedented way. For the first time, the festival will be observed at 68 identified pilgrimage sites across the district and not just in neighbourhoods and main streets. 

How will the celebrations unfold?

Organisers, including local temple and community groups, have drawn up a full-day schedule at many of these places.

Plans have been made accordingly to mix devotion and festivity in a way that reflects the area’s spiritual heritage. Morning rituals and prayers will be followed by massive Holi celebration in early afternoon and lamp-lighting ceremonies in the evening. 

Some places will host cultural programmes, children’s activities and bhajan evenings.

What security measures are in place?

With celebrations spreading wide, the district administration has put strong safety measures into action. According to the officials, the area is being treated as a sensitive zone with Section 163 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in force, a step that helps control public order. 

District authorities have approved 64 processions and divided the district into multiple sectors for better management. Police are stationed across key areas, which will be surveillanced by over 250 CCTV cameras and drone to watch crowds and processions in real time. 

Units of the Provincial Armed Constabulary and Rapid Reaction Forces are also on standby. 

Why the extra caution?

Ahead of the Holi festival, authorities in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal have covered around 10 mosques, including the historic Shahi Jama Masjid, with large tarpaulin sheets, citing precautionary measures to maintain communal harmony, according to officials. 

According to the district officials, the step was taken to prevent colour from being thrown on religious structures during Holi processions passing through these routes. 

The officials said that two separate processions are scheduled to pass in front of the Jama Masjid, where similar incidents in previous years had reportedly led to tensions.

What are organisers and officials saying?

Officials and festival committees have appealed to residents to stick to approved routes and timings, maintain peace and help keep the celebrations dignified. 

Police have urged people not to spread rumours and to report anything suspicious immediately. 

What is the objective of this?

According to the officials, the main objective is to ensure that the Holi festival is celebrated peacefully and disputes are avoided. 

Earlier, the administration had implemented similar security arrangements during recent Rang Ekadashi observances, with police maintaining heightened vigilance across the district.