Holi is the festival of colours, and symbolises the onset of spring season as well as the victory of good over evil. Being a part of the vibrant celebrations is something most people look forward to. And yet, for many women, the festival of Holi has darker implications. Reports and studies show that crimes of sexual assault and harassment against women tend to rise during the festival.
For example, in 1996, Delhi University’s (DU) Gender Study Group released a report explaining how incidents of sexual harassment and assault peaked during Holi. The study showed that 60.5 per cent of on-campus women students reported aggravated harassment during the festival every year. Even beyond college and university campuses, there is usually a rise of crimes against women across cities in India. These can range from pelting women on roads and public transport with water balloons, to molesting or eve teasing women by using that age-old phrase ‘Bura na maano, Holi hai!’ (Don’t mind, it’s Holi).
Given this rise in threats to women’s security and safety, the authorities tend to escalate precautions and policing during this time. Here are a few of these precautions by the police and the authorities that you should know about for Holi 2022:
Heightened Security Measures In Jharkhand
This state is taking elaborate measures from March 17 to March 19 in a bid to prevent unruly and indecent behaviour, hooliganism, vandalism, drunken driving and harassment of women. The state police will deploy around 2,000 personnel at 80 designated places across the Ranchi district. In Hazaribag, drones and CCTV footage will also be used to monitor events. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) has also been put on high alert for this duration.
Kolkata’s Anti-Crime Drive For Holi 2022
Cops across Kolkata are boarding public vehicles at special checks to sensitise the public about the risks of crimes during Holi and how to prevent or report them. The police are paying special attention to women passengers, and ensuring they feel safe to travel during the festivities. The Port division police is also surveilling buses, cars and bikes to ensure violators and defaulters are immediately apprehended. An officer at the police headquarters in Lalbazar also confirmed that awareness about other safety provisions under the Nirbhaya project, like alarm buttons in apps and vehicles, is also being spread for the safety of women.
DU & Delhi Police Gear Up For Campus Safety
The Delhi police, in association with the DU administration, is also amping up security measures on the university campus to ensure the safety of women students as well as staff. An official with the university has revealed that elaborate internal and external security arrangements have been made to prevent hooliganism and harassment of any sort. The measures taken include the setting up of a joint control room with the police, mobile patrolling, and ensuring a greater police presence across both North and South campuses.
Pune Police’s Flying Squads
The police force in Pune district has formed “flying squads” which will increase surveillance on troublemakers to ensure that women aren’t targeted during the Holi weekend. Further, the police will also aim to minimise drunken driving and harm to public property and transport. Plainclothes police will patrol the city’s streets to take immediate and stern action against hooligans, and the squads will be deputed at sensitive areas, markets, bus stands and other crowded places.
Checklist For Women For A Safe Holi Celebration
While the authorities across the nation are escalating actions for women’s safety, it’s important that women also consider their own security during Holi 2022 celebrations. Here are a few tips that might help:
• Plan your celebrations with your girl gang or people you trust.
• Keep your loved ones informed about your plans so that they know where and how to reach you.
• Avoid overly crowded places, especially ones where you don’t have a trusted group of friends as well.
• Ensure you keep your eyes covered and well protected.
• Carry water and stay hydrated.
• Make sure your phone is fully charged, and carry power backup as well as waterproof packets to keep them safe.
• Download safety and tracking apps, and memorise helpline numbers.
• Avoid unsealed beverages and foods, especially if you’re not at an intimate gathering with people you trust.
• Don’t hesitate to say no to things you’re uncomfortable with. Don’t shy away from asking for help and report any incidents to the authorities.
• Stand up for other women around you too. For more, read our bystander response toolkit.