District magistrate (DM) Saurabh Jorewal told “Lakhs of devotees from all over Bihar and other states visit the Deo Chaiti Chhath Mela, bathe in the holy ‘Surya Kund’ and offer ‘arghya’. They are likely to get infected by coronavirus, TOI has reported.

AURANGABAD/PATNA: The famous Chaiti Chhath festival has been cancelled at the famous Deo Sun temple in Aurangabad as Corona pandemic has cast a shadow on it. The temple’s trust committee and the district administration on Saturday has taken a decision in this regard.

District magistrate (DM) Saurabh Jorewal said “Lakhs of devotees from all over Bihar and other states visit the Deo Chaiti Chhath Mela, bathe in the holy ‘Surya Kund’ and offer ‘arghya’. They are likely to get infected by coronavirus. Hence, the fair will not be organized this year and the temple and the temple and the ‘kund’ will remain shut.”

This is for the first time that the Chhath Puja is not being celebrated at the Sun temple. Deo’s Up-pramukh Manish Pathak said, “All roads have been blocked to prevent the entry of outsiders.”

Amid the coronavirus lockdown, many devotees from Patna have decided not to celebrate Chaiti Chhath this time. Others will keep it low-key due to the lack of resources.

Sarita Devi (55), a resident of Rajiv Nagar, will not be able to celebrate Chaiti Chhath for the first time in 15 years. She said, “This festival means a lot to me and my family. It is sad that there will be no celebrations this year because of the unavailability of several important items.”

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