Bargarh: Bargarh MP Suresh Pujari has written a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik requesting him to allow some relaxations in the COVID-19 restrictions for mass agrarian festival Nuakhai.
In the letter, the MP said that Nuakhai is a burning example of how a festival can embody culture, heritage, tradition and brotherhood. The festival is celebrated across the state as a mass agricultural festival.
As the Rath Yatra festival was observed in Puri with strict adherence to COVID-19 norms, Nuakhai can also be observed in a similar way. Accordingly steps should be taken for observance of all the rituals associated with the festival, the MP said.
He also requested the CM to bring in some relaxations in the restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 well ahead of the festival date to facilitate selling and buying of essential commodities.
In the letter, the CM is also requested to take immediate steps for disbursement of the money under all the poverty alleviation yojanas of both the state and central governments among the beneficiaries well in advance.
Notably, the festival falls Sunday, August 23.
PNN
