BMC Restricts Sailing Of Boats, Mass Bathing In Bhubaneswar On Kartika Purnima

Bhubaneswar: In view of the present Covid-19 pandemic situation, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday imposed restrictions on sailing of miniature boats in Bindusagar and other river ghats in the State capital city on the occasion of Kartika Purnima on 30th November 2020.

The city administration has also imposed restriction on visiting of temples on the full-moon day of the holy month of Kartika which is considered as the holiest occasion in the Odia calander.

The State government has already imposed restrictions on the ‘Boita Bandana Utsav’ and mass bathing at river ghats and other water bodies.

An order issued by the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) on Tuesday also stated that Bali Yatra which is organised at different places including Cuttack, Paradip and Bhubaneswar on the same day will remain prohibited. The government has banned these activities in public interest as such congregations have large potential for the spread of COVID-19 infections, it added.

Devotees have been advised to avoid public gatherings and perform the rituals at home adhering to safety protocols like social distancing norms, use of mask and sanitizers.

Any person found violating the government will be liable to be punished under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and other relevant laws, a release of the SRC stated.

Notably, Kartika Purnima is celebrated with religious fervour across the State. People from different walks of life float miniature boats in ponds, rivers and other water bodies to celebrate ‘Boita Bandana’ ritual, remembering the State’s maritime history.

Earlier this month, the government had banned the celebration of Chhath Puja in the State. The authorities had imposed similar curbs for Dussehra, Laxmipuja and Diwali in view of the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.