Organizers say that Ramlila will be held in physical form in Delhi this year
Arjun Kumar, secretary of Luv Kush Ramlila Samiti, said on Tuesday that more than 60 Ramlila organization committees have decided to organize the event in their physical form in Delhi this year and they have the permission of DDA, MCD and ASI.
He claimed that the representatives of Ramlila committees met the vice-chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the commissioners of the Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD), who have given permission for booking of their grounds.
Delhi Dharmik Mahasangh, General Secretary and BJP leader Ashok Goel said that a delegation will soon meet the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and the Union Minister of State for Home and seek their help in granting permission to hold the Ramlila in view of the “controlled” situation of Covid. 19 in the city.
The federation is an umbrella organization of the Ramlila committees in the national capital.
Sources in the North Delhi Municipal Corporation said NDMC officials have given verbal approval to hold the Ramlila event in its grounds and parks, but the modalities will be finalized by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). The authority, at present, prohibits religious gatherings of any kind.
He said the number of visitors may be restricted to venues or other protocols need to be followed.
Several calls and text messages to DDA officials did not get any response.
Kumar said, “More than 60 committees met at Jhandewalan temple today and it was decided that we will organize Ramlila celebrations this year, for which all the organizers are allowed to book grounds by DDA, MCD or ASI (Archaeological Society of India). Gotta take it.”
Goel, general secretary of the Delhi Religious Federation, claimed that the DDA and MCD have started booking the grounds.
As per the latest COVID guidelines, DDMA prohibits any kind of religious gatherings in the national capital.
Kumar said that now he only needs permission and license from Delhi Police to organize Ramlila. He said that the new guidelines of DDMA should be issued in a few days.
“We are hopeful that the DDMA guidelines will allow Ramlila, perhaps not allowed with distant seating and fairs. Now that the bookings for the grounds are open, we are hopeful,” he added.
Even though the Delhi government last year allowed Ramlila celebrations with strict guidelines, most of the organizers refrained from holding the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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