NEW DELHI: Politicians are heating themselves over the order of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to ban Chhath Puja celebrations in public places for the second time in a row, mainly because all other festivals are allowed and almost all economic activities due to the improved Pandemic situation.
Northeast Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari has warned of protests if the ban is not lifted, stating that the order would be disregarded if permission were not given to hold the festival in public places. On Friday, he called members of the Chhath Puja Organizing Committee to his residence to discuss the matter. They called for the ban on Chhath Puja to be lifted and people to be allowed to celebrate with strict Covid-19 protocols.
“If liquor stores, theaters, and weekly markets were opened and economic activity allowed, then why was Chhath Puja, which is associated with the lakhs’ faith, banned?” Asked Tiwari.
The former BJP head of Delhi called for the ban to be lifted immediately. Although DDMA is headed by the lieutenant governor appointed by the center, Tiwari attacked Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “The AAP government should propose to DDMA to lift the ban and celebrate Chhath Puja in public places,” he said.
Chhath is a major festival in Delhi and is popular with residents of Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. It would be celebrated over four days, November 8-11. Last year Chhath and all other festivals were banned due to the Covid-19 situation. Compared to last year, the current situation is better under control and people were hoping that public chhath celebrations would be allowed.
Ajit Dubey, president of Bhojpuri Samaj, a social and cultural organization, said people are ready to follow stricter Covid-19 norms. He added that DDMA must allow Chhath Puja celebrations as it has long been celebrated in public places.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, DDMA allowed religious places to be opened to visitors and devotees, provided they followed all Covid norms such as wearing masks, observing social distancing, regular hand washing and the use of disinfectants. From various quarters, including politicians, there were demands for the opening of religious sites. Classes IX to XII schools would continue to be open to students with a maximum seating capacity of 50% of the classrooms.
