The district administration has decided to observe the Chadak Mela, the biggest festival of north Odisha at Shaivite, Chandaneswar, in a very low key manner this year in the wake of Corona virus fear.
Regarding the matter, a decision was taken following meeting with the temple trust board and management committee which was attended by Collector K Sudarshan Chakravarthy, MLA Bhograi Ananata Das and other members of trust board, besides the officials.
It was decided that all the rituals would be completed by only seven persons involved in the temple rituals.
The decision has been taken in the wake of Corona virus fear as lakhs of devotees congregate during the event. Majority of the visitors used to come from neighbouring Bengal.
The festival is observed from April 1 to 14 and the major events are the Kamini Vivaha, Nila and Pata. Hundreds of devotees under the rigorous penance take a holy dip in a pond of the temple. Meanwhile, another decision was taken to deposit the temple money with a nationalised bank withdrawing from private bank.