Bhubaneswar, March 20 -- Berhampur: The biennial festival of Goddess Budhi Thakurani in Berhampur of Ganjam district was called off by the Ganjam district administration in view of the rising Covid-19 cases in Odisha and the country.

As per reports, while the priests were preparing for installing the 'Subha Khunti' (auspicious post), which marks the beginning of the Budhi Thakurani Yatra yesterday night, the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) Commissioner Siddeshwar Baliram Bondar called off the festival after having a discussion with the chief organiser of the yatra, Patarla Durga Prasad Desibehera.

In the meeting, Desibehera informed the BeMC commissioner that the time period allotted them to conduct the rituals is not sufficient....