Kanpur: Not only for the temple city Varanasi, Ganga also has great relevance for the industrial city, and that too since pre-independence days as it has been a witness to both political and social movements during the British time and thereafter.Come Ganga mela on Tuesday, and one would see congregation of all big and small political parties at famous Sarsaiyya ghat.Cutting across political lines, the leaders would meet and greet each other. At the same time, they will not leave any stone unturned to woo their vote bank through the mela as hundreds and thousands of people gather here to enjoy the unique city festival.Ganga mela, a unique colour throwing festival, which is observed only in the industrial city since pre-independence times, culminates at the famous Sarsaiyya ghat. Its origin can be traced to 1942, when the Britishers imposed a blanket ban on playing of Holi, but the residents of Hatia, performed 'Holika Dahan' and played with colours to mark the protest against Britishers, and also to save their tradition. This led to the arrest of around 72 people for disobeying the British decree. Enraged over this, the denizens played Holi continuously for seven days until all the captives were released by the Britishers, and since then the Ganga mela came into existence. General secretary, UP Congress Committee, Shailendra Dixit, while talking to TOI said, "A camp of City Congress Committee will come up at Sarsaiyya ghat where all party workers will remain present. The party candidate Sriprakash Jaiswal will meet people and greet them on the occasion of Holi and Ganga mela. We will celebrate the day with fervour." BJP district president Surendra Maithani too showed zeal when asked about the preparations for the upcoming Ganga mela celebrations."Like every year, this year too, we will be setting up a party camp at Sarsaiyya ghat where all senior political leaders of the party will meet and greet people thronging the ghat", Maithani said.This time, former Union minister Sriprakash Jaiswal of Congress is again in the fray. The BJP and the SP-BSP combine are yet to finalise names of their candidates. But those who are vying for the tickets will surely be present at the Ganga mela to ensue they are able to make connect with the masses. As UP cabinet minister Satish Mahana's name is doing rounds for the ticket, it is therefore, expected that he would remain present during the Ganga mela celebrations.It is also expected that sitting BJP MP Murli Manohar Joshi too would arrive at the ghat to be part of the Holi celebrations. Massive colour throwing takes place on the occasion of Ganga mela. The city comes to a halt for the entire day, and people, cutting across all religions, take part in the celebrations drenching each other with the colour of love and brotherhood. But this time, political colours would get added to the celebrations. Happy Ganga mela.

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