Ralegansiddhi says it with gudhis, rangolis, drums and sweets

Thousands of homes in Ralegansiddhi hoisted gudhis on a stick with a cloth draped around it and decorated with neem leaves along with sugar candies to symbolically welcome social activist Anna Hazare after he won the battle for the Jan Lokpal bill in Delhi.

People put up gudhis on housetops in Ralegansiddhi

Rangolis were drawn outside every house as the village celebrated the end of Hazare's fast. Ralegansiddhi had not celebrated the Marathi New Year in April as Hazare was on a fast at the time. People had then hoisted black flags in solidarity with Hazare.

Now, as Hazare ended his fast after Parliament adopted the Sense of the House resolution on his three key points, the villagers had reason to celebrate the moment as if it were a festival. Locals, including a large number of women, spontaneously gathered at the main chowk and there was much sloganeering and cheering for Hazare.

The Tricolour was waved by thousands of women gathered at the ground in front of Yadavbaba Temple.
Dadasaheb Pathare, who recently returned from Delhi after spending almost a week at Ramleela Maidan, said it was a moment to cheer for all of them.

"We are proud of the fact that we belong to Hazare's hometown," Pathare said. The village, which was wearing a gloomy look till recently as Hazare's health had seen many ups and downs during his fast, shed its fears and celebrated Hazare's win enthusiastically. It was no less than Diwali for thousands of residents of Ralegansiddhi, with crowds bursting firecrackers and playing drums everywhere.

Locals gathered at main chowk in the village without bothering about the rain and distributed sweets. Sarpanch Jaysingh Mapari said the battle was won by non-violent method and this struggle for the Jan Lokpal bill will continue in the days to come. Mapari applauded the media's support for Hazare's protest. Mapari added that the decision on the arrangements and programmes to be held for Hazare's welcome would be decided at Gram Sabha.