Nitish Kumar and (below) Lalu Prasad

Patna, March 18: Chief minister Nitish Kumar and his political rival, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, have one thing in common in the context of the festival of colours this year. They will not celebrate Holi because of personal tragedies.

The mother of chief minister, Parmeshwari Devi, passed away on January 1. The RJD boss lost his sister-in-law, Marachiya Devi, on January 5.

Following the tradition of not participating in festivals for a year after a tragedy in the family, both the leaders will abstain from celebrating Holi.

The revellers will miss kurtaphar (shirt-tearing) Holi at Lalu Prasad’s home this year. Political success or failure never affected the carefree RJD boss on the occasion of Holi, one of the most popular festivals in Bihar.

Lalu has been known for first getting soaked in various hues and then chasing the visitors, tearing their cloths and drowning them in the pool of colours on the premises of his home. Usually, he himself played the drum and led others in singing raunchy Holi songs.

The RJD spokesperson, Randhir, said the party boss would not celebrate festival because of the death of Marachhiya Devi, wife of Lalu’s elder brother, Mukund Rai.

Nitish is not known for indulging in hungama which Lalu is known for. Still, he gets into the mood sharing pleasantries and exchanging gulals with the visitors. Incidentally, the chief minister has not celebrated Holi in the past three years because another tragedy striking him or the state.

He could not celebrate the festival in 2008 because of the death of his wife, Manju Sinha, in May 2007. He avoided celebrating the festival in 2009 and 2010 owing to unprecedented floods.

Most of the other politicians in the state are, however, gearing up to celebrate the festival of colours.