Shivaratri a sombre affair as state retains Covid vigil

By Express News Service
Even as the federal government restricted potential giant public gatherings on Mahashivratri amid a lurking concern of Covid resurgence, the competition was celebrated throughout the State on Thursday although with out the standard pomp and fanfare.  In Puri, devotees gathered on the Lokanath temple campus and lit “diyas” (earthen lamps) that burnt all night time. At midnight, the Mahadipa was lifted atop the temple “Amolaka” whereas “Khicchdi Bhog” was supplied to the Lord.

The Shiva Linga atGupetswar in Koraput Similar rituals had been noticed at different necessary Shiva shrines throughout the district like Kapalmochana, Jambeswar, Jodalinga, Beleswar, Kapileswar, Bakreswar and Bhimeswar. Anticipating giant gatherings, the administration deployed police personnel to make sure strict adherence to Covid-19 pointers like social distancing and carrying of  face masks. 

The celebration was comparatively a sombre affair in Koraput district. In the well-known Gupteswar shrine, solely a handful of monks and sevayats carried out the customary rituals whereas outsiders had been barred entry. Moreover, prohibitory orders beneath Section 144 of CrPC is in drive from March 9 until March 12, and all border entry factors like Ramgiri, Haldikund and Saveri had been sealed with deployment of extra police drive. The crowd was unsually skinny too in different Shiva temples in Jeypore, Koraput, Nandapur, Dasmantpur, Gaganapur and Pujariput. 

The scenario was comparable in Jajpur district the place outstanding Shiva shrines witnessed a low footfall as a consequence of restrictions by the district administration. On the day, Section 144 was clamped round seven outstanding Shiva shrines – Mahavinayak at Chandikhole, Baruneswar in Arei, Laliteswar and Trilochaneswar in Jajpur city, Beleswar, Likanatheswar in Nunupur and Uttareswar in Matabad. Devotees had been allowed to have darshan of the Shiva Linga from outdoors the “Gambhira” of the temples the place all cultural actions had been banned. The prohibitory order shall be lifted at 6 am on Friday. 

Sundargarh district too ensured a mellowed down Shivaratri by imposing prohibitory orders across the Vedvyas temple advanced in Rourkela which normally attracts round 50,000 devotees on the event. Only 11 monks had been allowed to carry out the rituals in keeping with a previous order by the administration. Rourkela and Lathikata tehsildars lifted the Mahadipa at midnight whereas even the members of the Vedvyas Trust Board weren’t allowed. The celebrations had been equally subdued in different areas within the district. 

Devotees at a shrine in Rourkela 

The scenario, nevertheless, was totally different in Ganjam district the place regardless of restrictions and clear pointers, the temples witnessed giant crowds within the early hours. Devotees had been seen blatantly violating the obligatory norms of carrying masks and bodily distancing within the temple premises in city areas. However, shrines in rural pockets noticed fewer devotees.

The well-known Pancha Mahadev Pitha in Buguda bore a abandoned look which normally attracts lakhs of devotees yearly in the course of the competition. On the opposite hand, BeMC organised a cultural programme at Ramlingeswar park within the metropolis. In Jharsuguda district, Shiva temples in Brajrajnagar, Belpahar, Bandhabahal, and Banharpali too witnessed crowds amid security curbs. 

No untoward incidents had been reported.