12, Feb 2016

There will be trouble leading to imposition of curfew.

Written by Milind Ghatwai | Dhar | Published:February 12, 2016 2:09 am
“Curfew to lagna hi hai. Ek myan me do talwar nahi rah sakti,” says Jayant Pawar, standing precariously on a two-wheeler as he focuses on a wrestling match, played under the hot son on a makeshift arena about 100 metres from the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque.
Bhoj Keshari Dangal, the wrestling tournament, is held every year on the eve of Basant Panchami and gets a lot of attention as residents throng the venue to cheer the players and occasionally raise religious slogans.
Jayant, in his 20s, is certain about how events will unfold this Basant Panchami, which falls on Friday. “There will be trouble leading to imposition of curfew,” he says with the authority of a veteran.
Dinesh Goyal, a shopkeeper who complains about a drastic fall in arrival of customers ahead of the festival, says, “It’s a question of just one hour after noon, when things take a turn for the worse.” He recalls how the police used force in 2006 and 2013 after being manhandled by devotees who were asked to clear the premises of the shrine. “The administration has sealed off exit routes with huge tin sheets,” he adds, but is certain that disturbance will break out.