Bihar bans entry of Jharkhand devotees at Deo for Chhath Puja

DALTONGANJ: The Bihar government has said it will not allow Jharkhand devotees to visit the Deo Kartik Chhath at Deo in Aurangabad district for Chhath Puja because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A letter signed by the Aurangabad district magistrate (DM) and sent to all district commissioners in Jharkhand on October 27 said the Deo Mandir Neyas Samiti has decided to allow only locals who are fully inoculated with two doses of the Covid vaccine to perform rituals at the Deo from November 8 to 11.
The DM also has asked the deputy commissioners to convey information on the ban to the devotees in Jharkhand who are planning to come over to Deo for the rituals.
The DM’s letter also said, “The Deo Mandir Neyas Samiti has disbanded melas and mahotsavs during the Chhath festival at Deo.”
Palamu DC Shashi Ranjan said he has received the letter from his counterpart in Aurangabad. He said, “Instructions have been given to all SDOs, BDOs and COs and police officers to ask people not to go to Deo Kartik Chhath as the Bihar government has banned the entry of Jharkhand devotees,” he said.
SDO (sadar) Rajesh Kumar Sah said he held a meeting with the Chhath ghat organisers and conveyed the ban enforced by the Bihar government.