Jharsuguda: For the first time in 40 years, the people of Jharsuguda town will not be able to witness Ravan Podi Mahotsav this time as the district administration refused to give permission for organising the event.
Ravan Podi was being organised here with much fanfare and enthusiasm every year for the last four decades. However, people will miss the grand event as Jharsuguda district administration did not grant permission to hold the festival on Manmohan ME school playground in the western Odisha town, sources said.
While the exact reason for refusal of permission is unknown, sources said it could be a fallout of a confrontational approach between two rival political factions of supporters of Jharsuguda MLA Dipali Das and Brajarajnagar legislator Alaka Mohanty.
As a controversy over organising the event had surfaced, the Jharsuguda district administration apparently adopted a cautious approach as it apprehended law and order problem. In order to prevent possible disturbances, the administration was reported to have taken this step to be on the safe side.
A dispute was stated to have cropped up after the supporters of Dipali and Alaka applied for permission to hold Ravan Podi Mahotsav in the town. With both the groups staking claims to organise the event, the administration found itself in a tricky situation and finally declined to accord permission for the programme.
A poster war was also brewing pertaining to the event which was supposed to be organised at the school playground. The posters put up by supporters of both legislators contained their names and photos on them.
