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Bhubaneswar: In a break from tradition, Odisha is going to witness subdued Ganesh Puja celebrations as COVID19 pandemic continues to dampen all festivities.
The small town of Jatni, just 20km away from Bhubaneswar is among those places in the State where Ganesh puja is celebrated in a grand manner. However, due to restrictions imposed by the administration, there will be no Ganesh Puja, which is celebrated in over 200 pandals in the town.
“Every year, the Ganesh Puja is celebrated in a grand manner. But we are not allowed to celebrate it this year. We are unable to express our disappointment through words,” said Ramesh Chandra Mohapatra, president of Sitaram Traders’ Association, Jatni.
Similar is the situation in Talcher, Angul and Paradip which are famous for Ganesh Puja celebrations.
“We wait throughout year for Ganesh Puja. But the restriction in the wake of Covid-19 has devastated us," said a resident in Angul.
The puja pandals in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar also wore a deserted look as Covid-19 has cast a shadow on the festivities. Despite pleas in the Orissa High Court, no green signal was given for community celebration this year.
“No organisation, group, individual or club will be allowed to celebrate the puja in public,” said Bhubaneswar DCP, Umashankar Dash.
Cuttack Collector Bhawani Shankar Chayani, said, “As the pandemic situation is yet to improve in Cuttack district, we are not celebrating the festival.”
The restriction on the celebration has also hit the idol makers as well as traders.
“This year, we made very less number of idols and the prices have also dropped drastically. Idols are fetching half the price,” said an idol maker in Rourkela.
Moreover, the pandemic has also dampened the festive spirit of Nuakhai, the agrarian festival of western Odisha.
“The Covid-19 restrictions have taken away all the festive fervour from Nuakhai. We will celebrate it in a subdued manner,” said Gitanjali Das, a resident of Bargarh.
(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)
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