Holi brings no joy to poor in Sundarpur

By Bijaya Kumar Sah,Dhalkebar, Mar. 27: The enthusiasm of Hoil was missing on Tuesday in the landless settlement of Sundarpur of Mithila Municipality-9 of Dhanusha district due mainly to poverty.    

The festival of colours brought no joy in the house of Bhogilal Sahani in the settlement, as they cooked no delicious dishes to eat on the day of Holi. 

When the festival of colours was celebrated with gaiety in the hilly districts on Sunday, in the Tarai district on Monday and in Janakpur on Tuesday. But, Sahani was found at home doing his regular work all these days. 

On the day of Fagu, sweet dishes like Malpuwa, puri and other sweets were cooked in most of the houses in the Tarai.

Like on other days, potato vegetables and rice were cooked at the Sahani’s home on the day of Holi. Showing the utensils, he said, “We do not have money to cook delicious food. We are poor people." 

Malpuwa is one of the major sweet dishes cooked in most of the houses in the Tarai on the day of Holi. It is customary to call friends and relatives to play Fagu and eat the delicious foods on this festival.  

Not only in Sahani’s house, but also in all 65 houses of Sunadrpur, the enthusiasm for the Holi festival was missing thanks to poverty.  They did not have money to buy sweet food.

Sahani said that barely 10 houses in the settlement cooked sweet dishes during the Holi this time. 

According to him, they bought red powder paying Rs. 50 to smear and bless their sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren.

Most of the poor families in the settlement work as daily wage earners. Due to the low wages, it is difficult for them to manage two meals a day. 

“There is no extra money to spend on festivals,” said Shiladevi Das of the same place.

The landless people who came from different places-built houses on the river bank about 25 years ago which now emerged as a settlement of landless squatters. 

Although the settlement has access to drinking water and electricity, the economic condition of all people living here is weak.