On Tuesday, Mumbai Police issued a preventive order ahead of the Holi 2025 celebrations, stating that those who disobey the order will face severe consequences.
"While Holi, Dhulivandan, and Rang Panchami Festival will be celebrated from March 12th, 2025, to March 18th, 2025, acts of indiscriminately sprinkling coloured water and obscene utterances in public places are likely to lead to communal tension and breach of public peace," the police stated in the preventive order.
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It further stated that some acts must be prohibited to maintain public safety and harmony. Mumbai Police Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Akbar Pathan issued the preventive order.
The following are forbidden under the order:
1. The use of offensive language or phrases in public and the performance of offensive music.
2. Using gestures or mimetic representations, as well as creating, displaying, or disseminating images, symbols, signs, or other items that might be offensive to morals, decency, or dignity.
3. The act of dousing pedestrians with colourful water, paints, or powder.
4. Making and/or launching balloons that are filled with coloured or uncoloured water, or any other liquid.
According to the Maharashtra Police Act of 1951, "Anyone who disobeys the order or aids and abets the disobedience thereof shall be punished under section 135." According to the police, the preventive order will be in effect from 12:01 AM on March 12, 2025, to midnight on March 18, 2025.