New Delhi (08/03/2023): The Festival of Holi was celebrated with full enthusiasm and devotional fervour by local residents of Kotla Mubarakpur.
The grand event organized by eminent social activist of the area Rakesh Kumar Sonkar was graced by the presence of many distinguished personalities.
The Chief Guest of the Holi celebrations was MP Meenakshi Lekhi, also the Minister of State for External Affairs & Culture of India.
Taking time out of her extremely hectic schedule, Ms Lekhi vibrantly participated in all the customs & rituals.
The Minister distributed the favourite Holi recipe “Gujjiya” among the local residents while personally greeting and posing for photographs with those present.
In an exclusive conversation with Consulting Editor of Ten News Network Bipin Sharma, Meenakshi Lekhi shared how the focus of the government since 2014 has been on spreading awareness about the rich Indian culture, traditions and festivals.
Ms Lekhi shared how initiatives like “Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” have been instrumental in not only consolidating the bond among citizens, but also helped in changing the overall perception about India on the Global forum.
She sounded optimistic while asserting that the citizens would dismiss any fake narrative about India, and that the country was well on course to becoming a VishwGuru.
The Minister enumerated the pathbreaking reforms and initiatives undertaken by the Modi government in the last few years, and lauded the efforts of all those that played a pivotal role in bringing about this transformation.
In a brief chat with Ten News, the key organizer of the event Rakesh Kumar Sonkar said, “Since time immemorial, festivals in India have been all about togetherness & celebration which has time & again helped the nation in community building especially during the time of freedom struggle; and this has been the driving force that inspired my family to celebrate momentous occasions like Holi, Diwali, Lohri with the local residents of the area.
It was the painstaking endeavour of my late father Sh. Jagdish Chander Sonkar who initiated this tradition of inviting people from all walks of life on major festivals of our country. He wanted everyone to not get lost in the modern day secluded lifestyle and thus ensuring that atleast the neighbourhood got together on important festivals like in old time close knitted communities and celebrate as a large family. He was a true visionary and way ahead of his times but, yet deeply rooted into our culture and traditions.
It’s a matter of pride that the residents of Kotla Mubarakpur have been celebrating Holi together like one extended family since the last 60 years in Sukhdev Market and Our honourable MP Madam Meenakshi Lekhi, since her very first term which began in 2014, has not only encouraged us but also guided us in organising such community gatherings. I express heartfelt gratitude to Madam Meenakshi Lekhi for spending quality time with the local residents on the pious occasion of Holi. It’s pertinent for me to attribute the success of our neighbourhood’s close bonding to the blessings of Goddess Maa Kali.
I feel humbled to share that we have been organizing a “Bhandara Sewa” for the general public since the Corona outbreak in the premises of the neighbouring Prachin Maha Kali Temple. While the Sewa was intended to last only till the end of Covid pandemic, I am overwhelmed to say that it has been continuing unabated till date despite the fact that normalcy has been restored post Covid.
This has been possible only due to the Divine Blessings of Maa Kali who has given us the strength and grit to continue with our noble humanitarian mission sans any break, for all irrespective of their caste, creed or religion.”
