Phulbani: With Christmas around the corner, the district administration of Kandhamal has urged the Christian community to celebrate the occasion ensuring strict compliance of the Covid-19 guidelines.
The administration has asked the church heads and other functionaries to allow maximum 10-15 people at once into the churches to offer prayer by wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and following other Covid guidelines strictly.
The community members have agreed to the proposal of the administration, informed Father of Catholic church and general secretary of Baptist church in Phulbani.
Gidian Nayak, the general secretary Baptist Church, said, “After discussion, the administration has given us permission to allow 10 to 15 persons at a time into the churches to offer prayers and we are planning to make arrangements accordingly. Due to the pandemic restrictions, the occasion will mostly be celebrated in our homes with the family members.”
Udayanath Bisoyi, Father of Catholic Church, welcomed the announcement of the administration and said that the people will extend full support. Unlike earlier, we are not celebrating the Christmas in a big way this year. As per the direction of the authorities, we will open the church on the occasion and 10 to 15 persons will offer prayers at a time by wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.”
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)