The Orissa High Court on Monday gave its stamp of approval for observation of the ensuing Durga Puja in Cuttack city adhering to the Covid-19 guidelines issued by the Centre and the State Government.
A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq allowed a writ petition filed by city-based Balubazaar Puja Committee seeking judicial intervention to hold the five-day-long Puja in October.
“The High Court has allowed our petition for holding the puja as per the Covid-19 guidelines,” informed petitioner Suryakant Sanganeria, who is the president of Balubazaar Puja Committee. Among the prayers, the committee had sought permission for making clay idol of the goddess, perform puja at their mandap without mass gatherings and take out a simple procession to immerse the idol, Sanganeria said.
Notably, the district administration has, meanwhile, allowed all other Puja Committees of the district to observe the puja in a very simple way without gatherings at the pandals. The administration has also asked the committees not to hold immersion festival in grandeur.