"People are set to miss Lalu Prasad's trademark 'kapdaphaar' (cloth-tearing) Holi as he will not celebrate after a tragedy in his family," Chandeshwar Prasad, an RJD leader told IANS here Saturday.

Both Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar will not celebrate the festival of colours this year to follow an age-old Hindu tradition to refrain from festivals for a year to express grief for a death in family.

Nitish Kumar's mother Parmeshwari Devi died early this year, while Lalu Prasad's sister-in-law Marachiya Devi died in January last year.

Lalu Prasad used to play 'kapdaphaar' Holi with his supporters, singing traditional Bhojpuri songs to drum beats. His supporters and sympathisers, including party leaders and workers would gather to enjoy a rare Holi.

Nitish Kumar is known for playing a gentle Holi with gulal (dry colour) unlike Lalu's rough style. "There will be no Holi celebration at 1 Anne Marg, the high security official residence of the chief minister. The iron gates will not open for the common man on Holi this time," an official of the chief minister's residence said.

The two leaders will not celebrate the festival for the second year. Last year, they expressed solidarity with the family of ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Abhay Singh, who shot dead his wife and daughter before killing himself.

Both Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad were close friends of the deceased legislator's father Bihar Food and Consumer Protection Minister Narendra Singh since college days in Patna.

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