Bhubaneswar, Oct. 24 -- Bhawanipatna: The famous Chatar Yatra of Goddess Manikeswari in Bhawanipatna was celebrated here on Friday in adherence to Covid-19 guidelines without the participation of devotees.

While all the rituals were conducted as per tradition, no devotees were allowed to participate in the festival. Only priests, drummers of Jenabadya and a troupe of martial band 'Ghumura' were allowed to accompany the Chhatar when it was carried back to the temple from Jenakhal.

Generally, more than five lakh devotees gather to catch the glimpse of the goddess during the return of Chhatar every year. They fly pigeons and sacrifice animals during the period. However, the devotees were not allowed for darshan of the goddess this year in ...