Santhal commissioner seeks tourism clarity for Shravani

Dumka: Santhal Pargana commissioner Arvind Kumar on Thursday asked the state tourism department for clear guidelines for Deoghar’s famous Shravani Mela scheduled to be held from July 5 this year in view of the Covid-19 outbreak across the country. Deoghar has recorded five positive Covid cases so far and four of them have recovered.
With uncertainty looming due to the Covid-19 pandemic, district officials, who are now busy trying to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, are in a fix whether to begin preparations for the month-long annual mela. More than 50 lakh tourists and devotees from across the country and abroad visit the iconic Baba Baidyanathdham temple in Deoghar to offer prayers during the holy month of shravan every year.
Kumar said, “Nothing can be said about Shravani Mela at least until May 31, when Lockdown 4.0 is scheduled to end. There is uncertainty everywhere and we have written to the government seeking guidance so that slowly we can begin groundwork for festive month next month June. Enforcing social and physical distancing and maintaining law and order situation will be difficult during the fair.”
All places of religious importance have been shut down since the lockdown was imposed in March. Last week, Deoghar DC Nancy Sahay had said that the admnistration is not sure if it would be possible to organize the mela this year. “Even if it is held, there will be a host of protocols in place to ensure social and physical distancing,” she had said.