COVID-19: Sec 144 clamped to restrict devotees performing Baruni Buda in Odisha

Jajpur: While the annual famous  Baruni Mela in Jajpur scheduled to begin today was earlier cancelled as a precautionary measure for COVID 19, today  the district administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 imposed at Dashashwamedh Ghat on the banks of Baitarani river.

The Baruni Mela is held every year for two days, lakhs of devotees throng the Dwadeshamedha Ghat to take holy dip (Baruni Buda). As per the tradition, they also offer ‘Pinda’ to their forefathers on the occasion.

However, to curb the spread of the deadly virus, the district administration had earlier declared cancellation of the annual festival and clamped Section 144 in the entire district though it was lifted later. Today, the administration imposed the prohibition at the Dwadeshamedha Ghat.  Two platoons of police force have been deployed at the site today. District Collector accompanied with other administrative officials visited Baruni Ghat and took stock of the situation, sources said.

“Collector Ranjan Dash asked locals as well as outsiders to cooperate with the district administration by not coming  to the site to perform Baruni Buda. Besides, priests offered prayers to Maa Biraja to keep people of the district safe from the deadly virus,” said an official.

Jajpur Sub-Collector Narayan Chandra Dhal,  Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Mihir Prasad Mohanty, Project Director Indramani Nayak, BDO Sourav Chakraborty and Public Relations Officer Santosh Ku Sethi accompanied the Collector during the spot visit this morning.