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- Published: April 15, 2021 18:49
New Delhi: The unprecedented swing in Coronavirus cases calls for minimum public interaction to curb its spread but there continues to flagrant violation of Covid norms.
In Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool districts, the Covid-19 norms went for a toss when thousands gathered for a religious event – ‘Pidakal war’. This came just a day after people celebrated Telugu New Year – Ugadi.
#COVID19 norms goes for a toss in Kurnool district of #AndhraPradesh. Thousands of devotees gathered in the village to celebrate Telugu New Year Ugadi.
Andhra Pradesh reported nearly 4000 cases in Last 24 hours.
Updates here – https://t.co/wpT3MA7o5g pic.twitter.com/2p9WG9R2aP
— Newsroom Post (@NewsroomPostCom) April 15, 2021
Pidakala Samaram, which marks culmination of 5-day long Ugadi Utsavam saw people gathered in hordes and in full violation of Covid norms. People didn’t follow social distancing while most of them were without masks.
During the celebrations, thousands of villagers split into 2 groups of devotees representing families of Veerabhadra Swamy and Kalikadevi to beat each other, hurling cow dung cakes as part of the Ugadi celebrations in connection with the mythology behind the marriage.
The villagers said that as part of the traditions, the Pidakal Samara is celebrated for generations.
#WATCH Social distancing norms violated at ‘Pidakal war’, during which cow dung cakes are hurled by two sides at each other on the next day of Ugadi, in Kairuppala village, Kurnool district yesterday#AndhraPradesh pic.twitter.com/4GGHpyyXn3
— ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2021
The organisers have reportedly been served notice by Kurnool SP for violation of Covid-19 guidelines during the celebrations. As per the SP, action might be taken against those who showed disregard for the rules.
Andhra Pradesh has witnessed rise in new cases of COVID-19 over the last 2 weeks. 4,228 fresh cases were reported on Wednesday, the highest daily count in last 6 months.