69th Gandhi Mela begins in Silchar

Special Correspondent

Silchar: The much admired Gandhi Mela dedicated to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi began here on Wednesday. It was inaugurated by Kabindra Purkayastha, former union minister and an educationist. Speaking on the occasion, Purkayastha said, “Today is the day when Mahatma Gandhi fell to the bullet of an assassin.

The day is remembered with all pain and sorrow. In order to pay our glowing tributes to him, Gandhi Mela is organized by Silchar municipal board every year.” He called upon the people in general to visit the mela not just for pleasure and entertainment, but to have the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi in mind to keep the atmosphere free from any pollution.

In fact, Gandhi mela has its own history and tradition which make the people feel proud. However, with the passage of time, much of its glory has declined as the earlier exhibitions and shows on varied themes and subjects are less in number now.

This has taken away much of the attraction of the mela. Kabindra Purkayastha recalled how circus was one of the main attractions, besides colourful exhibitions by different state departments. It was his advice to the organizers and also the visitors to keep the premises neat and clean. It was also necessary that no evil practices like gambling and consumption of liquor spoil the atmosphere. No one should forget that Gandhi mela is after all a sort of our paying respect to Mahatma Gandhi.

Niharendra Narayan Thakur, chairman, Silchar municipal board, said his volunteers would be on watch to ensure that nothing happens that would impair the fair name and tradition of this mela. Additional SP Jagdish Das said all necessary security measures would be taken to maintain peace, law and order so that visitors can go around the mela without any problem.

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