Prayagraj: “For women in the city, life becomes a nightmare two or three days prior to Holi. The festival of colour becomes an excuse for men to misbehave with women. As cases of sexual harassment are on the rise during Holi, women are forced to stay indoors,” says engineer Farooq Naseer while highlighting plight of women during holi festival, while speaking in a seminar. He described Holi as a vibrant celebration symbolising togetherness, joy and the triumph of harmony over discord. He expressed hope that the festival of colours would further strengthen communal harmony, promote mutual respect and deepen the enduring bonds of brotherhood across the region. He prayed for sustained peace, prosperity and progress in India and expressed confidence that the festival would usher in renewed hope and happiness for all.

It’s not just the roadside Romeos, taking advantage of the situation, relatives and neighbours too make inappropriate advances at women. “Two years back, while we were playing Holi in our locality, a neighbour with whom I have hardly ever interacted misbehaved with me. On the pretext of applying colours, he grabbed me and tried to touch me inappropriately. I pushed him back and ran into my house,” cited a working professional accompanying Farooq Naseer in the seminar. She now locks herself inside her room and does not play Holi.