Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation on Friday enforced restrictions on community observance of Paya Shraddha and Pinda Dana rituals at Bindusagar Lake and near Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar this Diwali in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation.
A notification in this connection was issued by the BMC on Friday, that read, “In view of restriction imposed by the government on large religious congregation and apprehension of spread of the COVID-19 virus due to congregation of large number of citizens on the eve of Deepavali festival at Bindu Sagar tank and near Singha Dwara of Lingaraj temple, the Paya Shraddha and Pinda Dana rituals have been banned for this year.”
Informing the same, the BMC twitted, "In the apprehension of the spread of COVID19 due to the congregation of large number of citizens on the day of Deepavali at the Bindusagar Lake & the Singha Dwara of Lord Lingaraj to offer "PAYA SHRADHA & PINDA DANA" the said ritual is banned this year for public safety."
It is pertinent to mention here that, a restriction on sales of firecrackers in the state is already in place till 30 November. Odisha government had prohibited the sale and bursting of firecrackers between November 10 and 30 in the State considering the potentially harmful effects of fumes emanating from firecrackers on people with respiratory problems and co-morbidities during the pandemic.
Earlier in the day, the district administration of Puri enforced ban on the age-old ritual of burning of Kaunriya Kathi (jute sticks) to pay obeisance for salvation of ancestors in front of Lord Jagannath Temple during Diwali this year.
However, the authorities have urged people to only observe ‘Paya Sraddha’ and return home without lighting the sticks.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)