No New Year's Eve bash in Bhubaneswar

December 15, 2020 23:08

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation authorities on Tuesday said that no New Year's Eve bash will be allowed in the Odisha capital due to the COVID-19 pandemic while churches are permitted to celebrate the Christmas festival adhering to safety norms.

The famous Lingaraj Temple was allowed to reopen on December 27 for servitors and their family members, BMC Commissioner P C Chaudhury said.

"Keeping in view the request made by different churches, the BMC has made special provision for the Christmas. The church authorities will inform the BMC on the space available on their premises and the number of people to attend the prayer. They will be asked to maintain social distancing," Chaudhury said.

Earlier, the Odisha Chapter of the All India Christian Council wrote to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seeking permission to reopen churches for prayer on the Christmas day.

"No celebration is allowed as of now (on December 31). The state government's December COVID-19 guideline strictly prohibits any social, cultural or religious gathering during the month," the BMC commissioner said.

Though the BMC allowed churches to observe the Christmas festival in Bhubaneswar, the state government has bestowed the power on taking a decision in this regard on district magistrate-cum-collectors in their jurisdictions keeping in view the prevailing pandemic situation.

-- PTI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Bizarre! Ball Gets Stuck In Batter's Helmet

Bouncer gets stuck in helmet, Tanzid unfazed in bizarre World Cup moment

India-USA: Who Won Fielder Of The Match?

A spectacularly well-timed jump to pluck the ball out of thin air, at deep mid wicket to remove Nitish Kumar, was the turning point of the game.

In Pictures - England crush Oman, stay in race for Super 8s

Images from the T20 World Cup Group B match between Oman and England in Antigua on Friday.

Ajit Doval back as NSA, P K Mishra as principal secretary to PM

The government on Thursday reappointed former IPS officer Ajit Doval as the National Security Adviser (NSA), according to an official order.

Kuwaiti authorities identify bodies of 45 Indians; vows prompt probe

Kuwaiti authorities have identified the bodies of 45 Indians and three Filipino nationals killed in the tragic fire incident in a building housing foreign workers in the Gulf Kingdom, a top official said on Thursday.