Maha Shivratri: Odisha Restricts Public Congregation In Temples, Mela & Large Gatherings

Bhubaneswar: In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Odisha government has asked the collectors to restrict gatherings during the celebration of Maha Shivratri on Thursday.

“The State is passing through a critical situation due to the detection of a new variant of SARS-CoV 2 and it is necessary to strictly adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols for the containment of the spread of the infection,” said the notification issued by the office of Special Relief Commissioner on Tuesday.

It further said that the collectors/ municipal commissioners may restrict congregations/gatherings to such number as may be felt appropriate in view of the prevailing pandemic situation considering local situations/circulation space available within such temples and on their premises.

“Mela/congregations outside/within the temple premises may also be reasonably restricted so as to avoid mass gatherings/crowding,” it said.

Any person found violating this order shall be punishable under the provisions of the. Disaster Management Act, 2005 and other relevant laws, it added.