Colourful treat awaits

Dumka, March 19: For the first time in the history of this town, Holi revellers have received a unique invitation as dozens of bhabhis (sister-in-laws) and chachis (aunties) have promised to turn good hosts during the festival of colours.

“Please come and play Holi with your bhabhi (or chachi) and partake of delicious food at my residence”. Such unexpected invitations from husbands of the civic poll candidates have bewildered voters here.

Holi, the festival of colour, is going to be a major platform for candidates, particularly women, who are contesting for the post of chairperson of Dumka municipality (reserved for women).

There are 22 women contesting for the post of chairperson here while there are more than 75 female candidates contesting for the posts of vice-president and ward councillors. There are 29,000 voters here.

“What is wrong in inviting people from the society to my house during Holi? It has been a tradition since long in the society. No one can defame me, nor would this violate the model code of conduct,” said Sunil Chatterjee, the relative of a candidate who is contesting for the chairperson’s post.

“How can we tell the candidate not to entertain her guests or ask her not to invite anyone during Holi? It is the tradition in society,” said most officials here. However, they preferred to be tight-lipped when asked whether such practice would violate the model code of conduct.

Husbands of young women have projected their wives as bhabhis while those of aged women have projected their wives as chachis.

“People will certainly like to play colours with their bhabhis,” some husbands claimed proudly, while others said people would never miss out on the blessings from chachis. Husbands of such candidates have started hoping for a large gathering in their houses though they know that it would put a huge dent on their finances.

“This is a unique plan to take the voters in confidence but it would become a costly affair,” admitted many husbands. “I am yet to decide on the appropriate candidate but I have already accepted the invitation from a bhabhi to play Holi at their place,” said Ajoy Khotriwal, a businessman.

An aspirant for the post of vice-president himself, Krishnand Jha “Badri”, said he would like to visit chachis.