Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has allowed for taking out Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti processions in Odisha’s Sambalpur.
The court also directed the state government to ensure necessary security arrangements during these events scheduled to be held in the city from April 6 and April 14.
The order follows a public interest litigation (PIL), seeking a ban on these processions to prevent possible unrest.
In 2024, the district administration had imposed restrictions on all kinds of religious processions, including Hanuman Jayanti in Sambalpur city, with 2023 violence still fresh in its mind.
On April 12 2023, two communities clashed outside a mosque in Sunapali area after stones were allegedly thrown at the bike rally on the eve of Hanuman Jayanti. During the violence, some shops and several two-wheelers were set on fire while a number of cars were damaged. The next day, internet services were suspended in Sambalpur city to curb spread of inflammatory messages. On April 14, the Hanuman Jayanti procession was taken out but several incidents of arsoning and a murder were reported, leading to a complete curfew across the city. Normalcy was restored in the city after around a week.
Every year a bike rally and a ritual ‘Jhanda Sthapana’ are organised prior to Hanuman Jayanti in the city.
Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated in Odisha on Maha Visuba Sankranti.
