Supporters of Anna Hazare play drums and smear gulal on each other at JP roundabout in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Aug. 28: As thousands of Anna Hazare supporters converged at India Gate today to hail the civil activist’s victory over the UPA government, their jubilant counterparts in the state capital also took to the streets to rejoice.

Anna’s supporters brought out a series of victory rallies, as he ended his 12-day-long fast at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. They waved Tricolours and distributed sweets to passers-by near Jai Prakash Narayan’s statue at JP roundabout. Banners in the support of Anna flew in the air echoing with slogans like “Anna tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare saath hai” and “Anna nahi andhi hai, desh ka dusra Gandhi hai”.

The scene was festive all over the city — at Kargil Chowk and Sahid Smarak — as it seemed Holi was back and Diwali was early with fellow residents smearing each other with gulal and bursting crackers at JP roundabout.

India Against Corruption activist Arun Das said: “It is one of the biggest victories in this democratic country and the credit goes to the great Gandhian, Anna Hazare, who did not move an inch from his fast and kept on fighting against corruption.” Das also broke his 12-day-long fast at Kargil Chowk today.

Sukesh Ranjan, another Anna supporter who was busy cheering at JP roundabout, said: “This man has brought smiles on the faces of a million people. He will always be remembered as an ideal man who did not care about his own health and sat on fast for the cause of the common man. In the true sense, he has proved what is the meaning of a one-man army as he pushed Parliament to hold a special debate on the bill. I just salute him.”

Students of Devi Dayal School also marched from Dakbungalow roundabout to Kargil Chowk with patriotic songs on their lips. Class VIII student Sagar Anand said: “I don’t know about any bill but I saw many students sitting on dharna with Annaji, on the television, and the teachers also told us that he is doing a good work. This is the reason I have come out with my friends. Many people are saying that he is like Mahatma Gandhi who fought against the Britons.”

Theatre artiste Suresh Kumar Ajju, who is famous for dressing up like the Mahatma, said: “From day one, I was hoping that Annaji would succeed. All these days, I was holding nukkad nataks and plays to send across the message of this great man, who has not only won the battle but has also given us hope that our future will be in safe hands.”

While Anna supporters boarded city buses to offer sweets to passengers, one of the commuters Surekha Kumari said: “Whenever any struggle is initiated with non-violence and peace, results are bound to come. But an activist’s past should be blemish-free. People raised questions on the credibility of Team Anna members but not a single question was raised on Anna.”