The Republic Day will be celebrated very differently tomorrow from the way it was done last year. As the persisting Covid-19 pandemic still posing a serious threat to public health, small-scale celebrations will be the order of the day what with the Odisha government having advised against mass gatherings.
It will not be very different from Independence Day celebrations last year, when the pandemic was at its peak. The government had organised a small ceremony for the big occasion with limited number of people – mostly top government officials, Covid-19 warriors and police officers – in attendance. The day saw muted celebrations held with strict adherence to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs to curb the spread of the virus.
This year, even though the nationwide Covid-19 mass immunisation campaign is already under way, the state government has decided to take all precautionary measures possible for safe January 26 celebrations. That is because a vast majority of Odisha’s population are not vaccinated yet and the Naveen Patnaik administration seems determined to ensure that the Republic Day celebrations do not turn into a super-spreader event that can bring about a fresh wave of the pandemic.
Unlike every year, when students from different schools of the state are selected to take part in the Republic Day parade as well as dance programs, this time they will not be a part of the celebrations as young kids are more susceptible to fall victims to the deadly virus.
The government has decided that there will be no tableau and dance programs either at the state-level celebrations or at district-level ones. District collectors across the state have been informed of the decision and all necessary steps are being undertaken to ensure its enforcement.
In the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Governor Ganeshi Lal will hoist the national flag at the Mahatma Gandhi Marg, while Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will be attending the ceremony. The guest list for the event is not yet finalised but is expected be to be far shorter than those of previous years.
Only police troops will participate in the parade and celebrations, and the general public will most likely be barred from sitting in the visitors’ gallery.
At the district level, authorities were directed to carefully select the guests who will physically attend the celebrations there. E-invites have been be sent to the guests. Mostly frontline workers and police personnel will be participating in the ceremony.
Before the ceremony commences, the venues will be thoroughly sanitized and cleaned. Entry and exit points will be regulated and hand sanitizers will be installed on both sides.
The strict adherence to Covid-19 safety measures ahead of the Republic Day celebrations in the state is quite in line with the Central government’s new motto – ‘Dawaai bhi, Kadaai bhi’ – that warns people against letting their guard down against Covid-19 too early.
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