Bhubaneswar: BMC Bans Holi Celebration In Public Places, Imposes Restrictions On Dola Melana

Bhubaneswar: Taking a serious note of the increasing number of COVID positive cases, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday banned the Holi celebration in public places and imposed restrictions on Dola Melana with an aim to contain further spread of the deadly virus.

Informing about the decision of the city civic body, BMC Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhary said that the residents of the city will not be allowed to celebrate the festival of colours in public places. They can celebrate the festival with their family members by strictly adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines. However, the vendors can put up their stalls to sell colours.

The BMC Commissioner said that the Puja committees will have to take permission from the urban local body for the ‘Dola Melan’. Gathering of more than 60 people will be restricted and only four to five people will be allowed to carry the ‘Dola Bimana’ to Melana venue in phase manner and a maximum of 10 Bimanas will be allowed at once, he added.