‘Bharat Bandh’ may mar Nuakhai Celebrations in Odisha

TNI Bureau: The ‘Bharat Bandh’, which has been called by the NDA for September 20 against Centre’s decision to increase diesel price and allow FDI in retail, is likely to mar Nuakhai celebration, if not postponed to some other date.

Nuakhai is the most awaited event for all the districts of Western Odisha and people from every corner of the country come to their native place (western Odisha) to take part in the event.

Undoubtedly Nuakhi celebration is the biggest gala of western Odisha. This is a celebration that includes performance of religious rites, cultural events and social gatherings. Preparation for Nuakhai actually starts so early before the actual date as the households need to clean the whole house and try to place all new articles in the home.

However, the ruling party in Odisha BJD will not participate in the nationwide shutdown. But parties like BJP and others will try to disrupt the normal life in the state.

Nonresident Odias of western Odisha used to come to their homes for this festival, but the nationwide shutdown will disrupt the transport system for which the commuters will face a lot of problems. Even they cannot go to the temple, which is the part of the rites. The unavailability of public transports like auto will hamper the normal life.

The cultural competitions and social gatherings take place in the afternoon after completion of the religious rites in the forenoon and people need public transport system to travel. Even if one would like to move with his own vehicle, he needs fuel (petrol or diesel) which also would not be available that day.

Ashok Panigrahi from Bhubaneswar said, “This is not the solution to the problems but this is only the crocodile tears. Bandh is unconstitutional and against the fundamental Rights of the citizens of India”.

In this way the whole celebration of Nuakhai will be utterly hampered and will appear colourless if the Bandh will take place on September 20.