GUWAHATI: Amid lockdown, Assam police have urged Bihu Committees to only have five people to hoist flag. Additionally, hoisting can be restricted to 30 minutes.

Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta tweeted, ”In view of #COVID19 outbreak & to keep everyone safe, may we request Bihu Committees across the State to please: Have an assembly of only five People ?Only for hoisting the Flag. Hoisting may be restricted to 30 minutes ?#SocialDistancing be observed during the hoisting.”

Also, Barpeta Xatra Burha Xatriya (Xatradhikar) and the president of the Xatra Managing Committee, Basistha Dev Sarma has urged all the devotees of Barpeta not to come to Barpeta Xatra during the lockdown. The Xatriya stated that the Xatra managing committee had decided that all the rituals and traditions of the xatra would be completed with minimal number of participants. No extra devotees should come to the xatra to seek blessings.

Every year, all the devotees come to Barpeta Xatra on the first day of Bohag Bihu in order to take blessings. This time, Barpeta Xatra managing committee cancelled the naam which is traditionally done during the seventh day of Bohag Bihu since ages. Again on the first day of Bohag a programme is held where the fortune-teller predicts how the year would be. For the sake of the health of the people, Barpeta Xatra has decided not to hold any programme and to perform the rituals with minimal presence. The Xatriya of Barpeta Xatra also urged people to stay at home and to obey the guidelines of the lockdown.

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