Bhawanipatna: Acting on the COVID-19 guidelines of the Odisha government, the Kalahandi district administration has decided to conduct the famous Chhatar Yatra of Maa Manikeswari in the town without participation of the devotees this year.
Informing the media, Additional SP, Kalahandi, Bijay Kumar Nanda said as the rituals of the Goddess are scheduled to be performed on October 13, prohibitory order under Section 144 of the CrPC in the periphery of the temple will remain in force from 8 pm of October 12 till 12 noon the following day.
He said in order to maintain law and order, 10 platoons of force will be deployed while 50 Sub-Inspectors, 15 IICs and 5 DSPs will remain in charge of security.
Though devotees are not allowed to participate in the festival at the temple, they can see the live streaming of the rituals of the deity on TV channels and Facebook.