Shahjahanpur: A bizarre Holi tradition in Shahjahanpur where a man is plied with alcohol until he is extremely drunk and then taken out on a bullock cart in a procession, called ‘Laat Sahab ka juloos’, where onlookers abuse, beat him with shoes, brooms etc is keeping the district administration on its toes. District authorities have decided to keep ‘Laat Sahab’ in a cage this year to avoid repeat of the last year’s severe thrashing the man had received.Originally called ‘Nawab Sahab ka juloos’, the century-old local Holi tradition – part bizarre, part painful – has been controversial as communal tempers fly high during the procession. According to locals, it is held to celebrate the downfall of a cruel ‘ruler’ who once ruled the region.Though the Laat Sahab, usually chosen from the minority community but his identity is kept secret, gets paid handsomely for this, he has to bear a good deal of pain. The procession has sparked communal unrest in the past and members of both communities have protested against the practice. Last year, Masoom Raza Khan, a local, had even approached the Allahabad high court but the HC refused to intervene, saying the matter fell under the jurisdiction of the local administration.District magistrate Amrit Tripathi said, “The main aim of the district administration is to ensure that the communal harmony of the city is not disturbed due to this tradition. Security officials are deployed at all the routes of this procession. Houses of the people belonging to a community and their places of worship are covered with large polysheets to keep them safe during the procession. The safety of the man, who poses as ‘Laat Sahab’, is the responsibility of the organizers of the procession.”This year, the organizers as well as the district administration have decided to put ‘Laat Sahab’ in a cage during the procession. Besides, several battalions of Rapid Action Force and police officials from neighbouring district have been deployed in Shahjahanpur city to avoid any untoward situation.Sanjay Verma, president of the organizing committee, said, “Over the years, we have made certain changes to ensure the safety of ‘Laat Sahab’ and for maintaining communal harmony in the city. This year, a large cage would be kept on the bullock cart and the chair of Laat Sahab would be kept inside it. He also gets to wear a helmet. Last year, the man posing as ‘Laat Sahab’ had received severe thrashing and we don’t want such things to repeat.”Verma said that the tradition is the pride of the city and local leaders, like state cabinet minister Suresh Khanna, as well as local industrialists generously donate funds for the procession every year.According to other members of the organizing committee, the volunteer this year is a 35-year-old labourer from Ghaziabad.“The man posing as ‘Laat Sahab’ gets Rs 11,000 cash from us along with other gifts like clothes, shoes, unlimited supplies of liquor and food. Besides, local residents and police officials give him cash which he keeps too. Last year, the man pocketed nearly Rs 20,000,” Verma said.The organisers make sure the volunteer is from outside the district.

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