Liquor shops in Barsana to be shut down till Saturday

Amid demands from sadhus, women and locals for declaring Barsana as a 'dry zone', the district administration has ordered all liquor shops in the town to remain close till Saturday for celebrations of the popular 'Lathmar Holi'.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar also said that a proposal for declaring Barsana as a 'dry zone' is being sent to the state government.
Lathmar Holi, to be celebrated tomorrow, is a popular event which attracts thousands of pilgrims from all across the country and the world.
Recently, sadhus of Braj bhumi had given a call for making Barsana a dry zone and demanded closure of all liquor shops in the area.

"Pilgrims are pained when they find sale of liquor, eggs and meat in the pious land of Barsana. If district administration does not heed the demand, not only roads would be blocked but agitation would also be intensified," the Mahant of Sudama Kuti, Ram Raj Das Baba had said.
Alleging misconduct by drunken men, the 'Huriyarins' or women participants in Lathmar Holi had backed the ban on liquor shops in the area and said they would not participate in the celebrations on February 27.