COVID scare: No Durga Puja to be held in Cuttack this year

Cuttack: The district administration of Cuttack on Tuesday decided not to allow holding of Durga Puja in any pandal/mandap in Cuttack city in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cuttack Collector & DM, Bhabani Shankar Chayani, today told the media that permission could not be granted to pandals/mandaps to conduct Durga Puja this year for coronavirus pandemic.

Worthwhile to mention here that earlier in the day Cuttack Balu Bazaar Puja Committee had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Orissa High Court seeking permission to conduct Durga Puja celebrations in the city keeping in view the 500-year-old tradition.

The Commissionerate Police also had not allowed holding of community celebration of Ganesh Puja in twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.