The Akharas Samiti members of Dhanbad, who engaged in practice sessions for the traditional show during Ram Navami procession, are up in arms against the restrictions imposed by the state disaster management department on religious procession during Ram Navami.

The protesting Akhara Samiti members who held a meeting today in this regard at Danveer Bhamashah Dal practice ground at Jharia in Dhanbad claimed that the disaster management department's diktat to conclude all religious procession before 6 pm is completely illogical and against the popular sentiments.

“Instead of ordering the procession to conclude at 6 pm, the government should have ordered the procession to begin at 6 pm,” demanded Manoj Sahu, President of Maharana Pratap Dal.

The protesters, among which members of traditional Akhara Samiti’s including, Danveer Bhamashah Dal, Maharana Pratap Das, Mahabali Bhim Sen Dal were present, demanded the state government to reconsider its decision in view of people’s sentiments and allow the procession to be taken out in the traditional manner like the pre-pandemic period after 6 pm

Anup Sao, former councilor of ward Number 37 of Jharia who was also present during the meeting held today said, “At a time when the temperature during the day time is hovering around 38 to 40 degrees Celsius, the government order to organize processions during daytime holds no logic.”

He further said that the lighting show, taken out as part of the Ram Navami procession, is the main attraction of the procession for which local residents wait for more than a year, will hold no meaning if the procession is to be concluded under the Sunlight.

As per the state disaster management department notification issued by the signature of chief secretary Sukhdev Singh on March 30, the total number of persons in any religious procession should not exceed 100 and even if multiple processions converge at a place, the total number of people should not exceed.

“If the government fails to rectify the notification, then the order in all likelihood will be violated given the fact that the Covid situation has significantly improved and there is no bar on any other activity and even the schools for primary sections have already opened across the state” said Ranjit Gupta alias Chunnu Gupta of Danvir Bhama Shah Dal.