Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh High Court has upheld the state government’s ban on the public celebration of Vinayaka Chaturthi festival. However, the high court also directed the state government to allow setting up of Ganesh pandals in private premises.
The High Court on Wednesday was hearing a petition challenging the state government’s orders banning the public celebration of Ganesh festival on September 10 this year.
#Andra Pradesh High Court upholds state government’s ban on public celebrations #GaneshChaturthi Festivals. Although #highcourt It also directed the state government to allow setting up of Ganesh pandals in private premises. pic.twitter.com/ZQJ8LN5ecQ
— IANS Tweets (@ians_india) September 9, 2021
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Citing the COVID pandemic, the state government led by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had decided to put a halt to public events for the festival. As per the orders issued recently by the state government, a ban was imposed on setting up of Ganesh pandals in public places.
However, this move of the government has been strongly opposed by the opposition parties BJP and TDP. In the past two days, the BJP has organized massive protests, demanding that public celebrations be allowed for Ganesh Chaturthi with festivities lasting from three to twenty-one days.
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Observing that Article 26 empowers people to manage their religious activities, the High Court has directed the state to allow Ganesh pandals in private premises. Not more than five devotees can worship in such pandals at any one time. The court said that the Kovid norms should be duly followed at these places.
(IANS. with inputs)
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