Petition Filed In HC To Allow Celebration Of Durga Puja In Odisha

Cuttack: Even as uncertainty looms large over the Durga Puja celebration this year in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, a petition was filed in the Orissa High Court on Tuesday seeking permission to organise the festival.

Cuttack Balu Bazaar Puja Committee, which is one of the oldest Puja committees in the Silver City, has filed the petition in the HC and urged the court to allow the festival in order to preserve the 500-year-old tradition.

The committee members have assured the court that the festival will be celebrated with strict adherence to social distancing and other safety guidelines in force in view of the pandemic.

Petition filed in Orissa High Court seeking permission to hold Durga Puja festival this year. Cuttack Balu Bazaar Puja Committee urges the HC to allow the festival keeping in view the 500-year-old tradition. The committee assures to abide by all the #COVID19 guidelines pic.twitter.com/UZJQxwUTG1

— OTV (@otvnews) August 25, 2020

The petitioners have cited the example of Rath Yatra which was allowed this year to preserve the centuries-old tradition. In addition, they have urged the court to allow making of idols for the Durga Puja.

The home department of the State government, police commissioner and deputy commissioner of police (DCP) have been made respondents to the case.

Also Read: COVID-19 Impact: No Durga Puja In Pandals In Cuttack

It may be noted that the State government had restricted community level celebration of Ganesh Puja this year in view of the pandemic. With the trend of COVID19 showing no signs of abating, doubts are already being flagged whether the government will allow Durga Puja this year as the festival which is held mostly at a community level is the prime time of festive season in the State.

In a related development, servitors of Mangla temple in Kakatpur have moved the State's apex court seeking opening of the temple for devotees. Citing that they are reeling under financial crisis due to ban on devotees, the servitors demanded assistance like for the sevayats of Puri Lord Jagannath Temple.

Orissa High Court directs the State govt, Endowment Commission & Kakatpur Mangala Temple trust board to file their response by September 14 on a plea for reopening of the shrine & lending of financial assistance to servitors of the temple in view of #COVID19 pandemic pic.twitter.com/wHRoEvwxI3

— OTV (@otvnews) August 25, 2020

Acting on the petition, the HC has issued notice to the State government, Endowment Commission and the temple trust.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)