With Covid-19 cases rising, Odisha puts curbs on Holi celebrations

The order also made it mandatory for all employees inside office premises to wear masks and ensure social distancing of 2 meters between two persons.

Published on: Mar 20, 2021, 01:08:27 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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With its Covid-19 cases touching three digit figures after a gap of 41 days, the Odisha government on Friday ordered that Holi celebrations would be restricted this year.

The Odisha government on Friday ordered that Holi celebrations would be restricted this year amid a spike in Covid-19 cases. (HT PHOTO.)

“Holi on March 28th and 29th and related rituals shall not be observed in public places throughout the state. People may celebrate Holi with family members in their houses only and not in any public places including public roads,” an order of the office of the Special Relief Commissioner said.

The SRC order said congregations for celebration of Dola Jatra and associated religious and cultural congregations will not be allowed in public places throughout the state. Religious rituals in temples will continue as usual with strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols. “Considering local conditions, Collectors and Municipal Commissioners may impose appropriate restriction on entry of devotees into temples and celebrations in temples and religious places,” the order said.

“Dola Melan, if any, may be allowed with appropriate number of participants as decided by the Collectors/Municipal Commissioners in their respective jurisdictions with strict adherence to Covid-19 appropriate behaviour and norms,” the order added.

In a separate order, the general administration department advised all departments to hold meetings over virtual mode. “It is advised to ordinarily hold meetings over virtual mode until further orders. In case a physical meeting is necessitated, seating may be arranged so that appropriate physical distance amongst the participants is maintained,” an official order of the General Administration & Public Grievance Department said.

The order also made it mandatory for all employees inside office premises to wear masks and ensure social distancing of 2 meters between two persons. Spitting inside the office premises is strictly prohibited, it said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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