Odisha: No Devotees, No Animal Sacrifice At Chhatar Yatra; Bhawanipatna Town To Be Sealed

Bhawanipatna: The annual Chhatar Yatra at Manikeswari temple in Bhawanipatna town in Kalahandi district on October 24 will be held without devotees this year.

Briefing the media on Wednesday, Kalahandi Collector Gavali Parag Harshad said there will be no congregation near the temple in view of the pandemic.

“To stop people from visiting the temple to witness the yatra, the district administration will seal Bhawanipatna town on October 24. Apart from this, there will be constant monitoring in the border areas of the district and people coming from other places will not be allowed to enter the town. However, travellers with emergency medical cases will be allowed,” the collector said.

He further maintained that there will be no animal sacrifices at the temple this year. “The district administration has started an awareness campaign in the district to restrain themselves from this practice,” he pointed out.

The collector also requested the people to watch the live telecast of the yatra of the Goddess in the confines of their home.