The harvest festival of Makar Sankranti was celebrated in the traditional way at RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi's residence here on Friday, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar too joining in the festivities.The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader also sent out a political message on the occasion by applying a 'tilak' of curd on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's forehead to indicate they enjoyed cordial relations, contrary to speculation. Nitish visited the 10 Circular Road house allotted to Rabri Devi, a former chief minister. Janata Dal-United national president Sharasd Yadav also visited Lalu's family on the occasion.
"Laluji is an elder brother; he applied a 'tilak' of curd on my forehead as a mark of his blessings," the chief minister said.
Lalu helped Rabri Devi in serving the traditional 'dahi-chura' to party leaders and others who visited them. Their two sons - Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav and Health Minister Tej Pratap - joined both in taking care of their guests.In Patna, two big feasts were organised - one by Lalu Prasad and another by Bihar JD-U president Vashisht Narain Singh - for leaders and party workers.RJD leader Bhola Yadav said 32 quintals of curd and 32 quintals of 'chura' were arranged for the feast at Rabri Devi's official residence while JD-U leaders put the quantity used at their feast at over 20 quintals of curd and 20 quintals of 'chura'. Senior RJD and JD-U leaders, including ministers, legislators and MPs, joined the festivities while savouring traditional food items like 'chura', 'tilkut' and 'khichri'.Nitish Kumar, along with several present and former ministers, legislators and parliamentarians also joined the feast organised by Singh at New Patna Club opposite the ruling JD-U office here.Lalu Prasad visited the function organised by the JD-U leader, who is known for holding such feasts for the past many years to mark Makar Sankranti.