Bhubaneswar: The state government has prohibited Bol Bom devotees or ‘Kaudias’ from their yearly journey by foot in which they carry water from a temple to pour on a Shiva temple during the Odia month of Shravan(July/August) in view of the COVID-19 situation and in the interest of public health, the Office of the Special Relief Commissioner informed in a circular.
The Bol Bom devotees start their journeys Saturday/Sunday/Monday by collecting water and walk till Monday warning to pour the collected water on Shiva Linga.
The state government , in accordance with the orders issued by the central government, had directed all religious places/places of worship for public to be shut till July 31st, 2020. It had also prohibited religious functions or congregations of any kind.
The devotees,also called Kaudias, are hence not allowed to carry water and walk on any public road as the congregation might have a potential of spreading the COVID-19 pandemic. The state government has instructed all officials to strictly implement the order in the interest of public health.
PNN