Celebration of Chhat Puja restricted in Cuttack

Bhubaneswar: Fearing spread of COVID-19 due to public congregation during Chhat Puja starting November 10, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) today imposed restriction on celebration of the festival.

As huge number of people congregate at river banks to take holy bath and perform the puja, celebration of the festival could lead to a spike in COVID-19 infections, said an official.

The civic body advised the people to perform other rituals of the festival in their respective houses, avoid mass gatherings and follow COVID Appropriate Behaviour.

“The guidelines issued, on November 1, by Revenue and Disaster Management Department for Diwali, Chhat Puja and Kartik Purnima will be applicable fully for CMC areas,” read the order issued by CMC.

On November 1, the state Government issued detailed guidelines on sale and use of firecrackers during the festival of Diwali, Chhat Puja and Kartik Purnima.

In the order, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said sale and use of fireworks shall be limited to only green fireworks that conform to the definition and formulation as proposed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research –National Environmental Engineering Research Institute. Other than green fireworks, sale and use of other fireworks and joined fireworks shall be completely banned.

The SRC order stated use of fireworks shall be limited to 8PM to 10 PM on the day of Diwali (November 4) only.