Maha Shivratri fair cancelled in Ctg

The fair centring significant Hindu festival Maha Shivratri will not be held in Chattogram this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, said organisers.

The festival is scheduled to be held at Chandranath Dham in Sitakunda upazila tomorrow. The devotees will only perform religious rituals, said Sitakunda Shrine Committee, which organises the annual "Shiv Chaturdashi Fair" on the 14th of the dark fortnight of Bangla month Falgun.

Lakhs of people from different parts of the country gather there every year, said locals and organisers.

"We are discouraging people to flock the shrine this year," said Haradhan Chowdhury, vice president of the fair committee.

"We are making this decision because maintaining health guidelines will be a big challenge," said Haradhan.

"Anyone without a face mask will not be allowed to enter the venue," he said, adding, "We will engage a good number of volunteers to look into it."

Advocate Shukhamoy Chaktraborty, general secretary of the committee, said, "This year, all sorts of additional programmes including Baidik Sammelan have been cancelled."

Committee president and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Milton Roy echoed him.

A total of 350 police and Ansar personnel will be deployed there to maintain law and order, he said. Medical teams will also work like previous years, said the UNO.

Maha Shivratri is observed by remembering Lord Shiva and chanting mantras, praying and fasting. Devotees of Lord Shiva keep awake all night chanting mantras and prayers.