In a bid to check large congregation of people to prevent Covid-19 transmission during Kartika Purnima celebrations in Odisha on Friday, the administrative authorities of several areas have clamped prohibitory orders.
Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) barred outdoor celebration of the auspicious Kartika Purnima on October 19 by imposing restrictions for the public on visiting different temples and water bodies across the city.
As per the latest guidelines issued by the civic body, public congregation won't be allowed at Bindusagar Lake, river ghats and other water bodies within the jurisdiction of BMC for Boita Bandana Utsav (boat sailing festival).
The restrictions mean that the residents of the Smart City won't be able to sail miniature boats, for the second year in a row, to mark the auspicious occasion of the full-moon day of the Kartika month which is considered as the holiest day in the Odia calendar.
Meanwhile, Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has also restricted sailing of miniature boats and public congregation at rivers and other water bodies to celebrate Boita Bandana on the occasion of Kartika Purnima.
As per police sources, IICs of all police stations in the city have been directed to keep a track on the same and ensure compliance to the restrictions in their respective jurisdictions.
Similarly, district authorities in Cuttack and Puri have clamped prohibitory orders around notable shrines like the
Dhabaleswar, Srimandir, Sakhigopal from till November 19 to prevent gathering of large crowd.
Srimandir in Puri will remain closed for darshan of the devotees on Kartika Purnima in order to avoid any spike in the transmission of Covid-19 on account of a large gathering which is anticipated on the day.
Dhenkanal district administration has imposed Section 144 at as many as 16 significant shrines including the Kapilash Kshetra, Balaram, Paschimeswar, Ugreswar and Anantasayana premises across the district for floating of boats and common darshan.
The Bhadrak district administration has imposed Section 144 around Baba Akhandalamani temple and Shiva Ganga tank.
Similarly Jagatsinghpur district administration has issue prohibitory orders around several temples like Maa Sarala Temple, Dhyankund Jagannath Temple in Biridi and others.
Meanwhile, the sea beaches in Gopalpur, Sunapur and Aryapalli in Ganjam district will also remain out of bounds for public during the auspicious occasion.
Ahead of the festive occasion, the restrictions have played spoilsport on the sale of miniature boats, puja items and even fire crackers.
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)