Hindus around the country are gripped with the fear of being the victims of communal violence.

The 400-year-old Rath Mela in Dhamrai, a fair that is integral to Hindu festival Rathjatra Utsab, was shut down Saturday night allegedly over a rift between the local lawmaker and municipality mayor.

Ratha Yatra, the festival of chariot of Sri Jagannath Dev, one of the major festivals of the Hindu community, will begin today.