Kolkata, March 3 – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called for "holy harmony" among the people on Dol Yatra and Holi on Tuesday.
She posted on her social media account, quoting two lines from a song about the Dol Yatra festival, written by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, in which the Nobel laureate Indian poet-cum-writer described how the festival of colors brings a sense of harmony and togetherness among people.
"I extend my heartfelt wishes and congratulations to everyone on this auspicious Dol Jatra. May the Holi of peace and the swing bring sacred harmony to humanity," the Chief Minister said in her social media post.
The Dol Yatra festival on Tuesday also coincides with the occasions of Gaur Purnima and the birth anniversary of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
The Chief Minister, in another social media post, had urged the people of West Bengal to learn the lesson of "unity" from the life of the great Indian spiritual philosopher and influencer.
"The life of Sri Chaitanya Dev and his ideals of humanity have been guiding and inspiring us for the past 500 years. His genuine love for humanity brought together all people, rich and poor, learned and ignorant, irrespective of caste, creed, or religion. By binding them in the chain of love, he showed the path to equality and unity, which resulted in the renaissance of Bengal. Therefore, for me, the religion of Mahaprabhu means the religion of humanity," the Chief Minister added.
She also said that on this special day, people should take an oath that they will not allow Sri Chaitanyadev's Bengali tradition of secularism and tolerance to be tarnished.
In her post, she had also narrated the work done by her government in the Nadia district of West Bengal, the birthplace of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, in memory of the great Indian spiritual influencer.
"Our government is developing Navadwip, the birthplace of Mahaprabhu, as a 'Heritage Town'. The state government has allocated 700 acres of land to build this holy pilgrimage city of ISKCON in nearby Mayapur," the Chief Minister claimed.
The leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, had also wished the people on Dol Yatra and Holi festival.
"Wishing everyone a joyful Dol Purnima, spring festival, and heartfelt greetings and congratulations on Holi," Adhikari said in his brief social media statement.
