KATHMANDU, August 22: The Ministry of Home Affairs has urged the people to maintain safety and health protocols while celebrating festivals and buying essential goods on a daily basis. According to Fanindra Mani Pokhrel, spokesperson for the ministry, people have been urged to celebrate festivals just as a cultural formality avoiding large gatherings.

All the district administration offices have been directed to oversee that the festivals are celebrated just as a formality and to control huge gatherings at religious places, Pokhrel informed Republica. 

In addition, prohibitory orders have been enforced in the Kathmandu valley till August 24. The District Administration Office of Kathmandu has urged the people to celebrate Janaipurnima and Gaijatra festivals on Monday, without creating large crowds and gatherings. Kaliprasad Parajuli, chief district officer (CDO) of Kathmandu has also requested people to follow the safety and health protocols while celebrating festivals. 

According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, security personnels have been deployed in all 77 districts of the country to secure peace, and control the spread of COVID-19 infection and crowds of people. 

However, on the occasion of Janaipurnima on Sunday, huge crowds of people gathered at various shrines across the country. 

 
• Festivals
 
• large_gatherings
 
• MoHA
 
• COVID-19