Covid guidelines violation seen at Chadhi festival in Vadodara

Amidst the possible third wave of Corona, concessions are being given by the government to various religious festivals on the condition of complying with Covid-19 guidelines. But people celebrating religious festivals are likely to invite it as most of the time there was a violation.

In Vadodara Covid-19 guidelines was not observed at the Chadhi Mahotsav celebrated by the Valmiki Samaj. 40 people were allowed per Chhadi by the police commissioner, but the rule was not followed as thousands of people from the Valmiki community attend the late-night puja at Laheripura gate.

The Valmiki Samaj in Vadodara has been celebrating Chadhi Mahotsav with fanfare for years in memory of Goga Maharaj. The glorious stick is made by the mandals of the Valmiki community in different areas of the city. On the day of Shravan Navami, the stick is brought to the temple at Laheripura and after performing the pooja-ritual is taken back to the place prepared in the area. The next day is immersed by sprinkling holy water.

The Valmiki community was allowed by the city police to engage 40 people with one stick in the festival, but thousands of people from the Valmiki community reached at Lehripura violating the guidelines and even many of them were seen without masks. However, no untoward incident took place due to strict of law and order maintained by the police.

Rajinikanth Solanki, a leader of the Valmiki community, said that the Chadi festival has been celebrated by the community for the last 400 years. About 30 sticks were planted in the city this time. According to tradition, on the day of Navami, the stick is brought to Laheripura and after performing the pooja-ritual there, the stick is taken to the temple of Goga Maharaj in the area again. Where the next day the holy water is sprinkled and immersed.