The Dolma Buru Sendra Samity, a frontal outfit of tribals, on Wednesday cancelled Bishu Shikar or Sendra for the second consecutive year in view of the surge in Covid-19 cases.

Sendra was scheduled to be held at Dalma wildlife sanctuary on May 24. However, in keeping with the tradition, tribals will only perform puja.

DBSS chief priest, Rakesh Hembrom said it would not be a wise idea to go ahead with the hunting festival when Jharkhand and the entire country is in the grip of the virus. “We would only perform puja at Fadlugora village on the foothills of the Dalma hills. We are unanimous in our decision to cancel the festival,” he added.

According to him, their tribal brethrens from Jharkhand, Bengal and Odisha will not be coming for Sendra in view of the pandemic. “Moreover, the Dalma wildlife sanctuary is also closed due to the surge in Covid cases. A few of us will just perform customary puja in the name of Sendra,” Hembrom added.

Apart from Jharkhand, tribals from Bengal and Odisha assemble at the sanctuary to hunt animals.