Sambalpur: Religious Procession Ban Lifted After Years; Muharram Procession to Take Place
Decision by District Collector in Peace and Coordination Meeting
Procession Was Halted in Sambalpur After Hanuman Jayanti Violence
Sambalpur: The ban on religious procession in Sambalpur has finally been lifted. This year, the district administration permitted the Muharram procession. Since last year’s Hanuman Jayanti violence, all religious processions in the city have been suspended. However, following the change in state government, the district administration has agreed to allow the processions. This decision was made today at a peace and coordination meeting for Muharram.
Akshay Sunil Agrawal, Sambalpur District Collector, stated that everyone should appropriately celebrate this brotherhood festival. “We will make all the necessary arrangements for this. The district administration will offer all facilities and opportunities. Police have also been heavily deployed to maintain peace and order. “We urge everyone to enjoy this festival of brotherhood while remaining vigilant to avoid any harm or loss of life,” the Collector requested. The District Collector has directed that the committee and the police administration work together to finalize the procession route. During the meeting, representatives from all eight Muharram committees stressed the importance of a well-organized celebration.
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The District Collector chaired today’s peace and coordination meeting, which took place in the local District Council Hall. The committee members requested that roads be repaired, drains be cleaned, drinking water be provided, an uninterrupted power supply be established, and hanging electric wires be repaired immediately. The Daleipada Muharram Committee requested government assistance with the celebration. The District Collector stated that water tankers, fire teams, first aid stations, and ambulances would be available on the festival day.
The meeting was attended by Sambalpur Municipal Corporation Commissioner Vedbhushan, Additional District Collector Sucharu Kumar Bal, Chief Development Officer of the District Council Dharmendra Mallik, Additional SP Haresh Chandra Pandey, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Dr. Pushpanjali Panda, and other officials.
Following last year’s violence during Hanuman Jayanti, the state government issued a directive to halt all religious processions. The previous administration had planned to enforce this ban until the upcoming Dussehra. As a result, processions for Hanuman Jayanti, Durga Puja immersion, Ganesh Puja immersion, Lakshmi Puja immersion, and Muharram were all canceled. However, now that the BJP has taken power in the state, permission for this year’s Muharram procession has been granted.
