<p>Pandas at a loss as govt cancel Shravani Mela: Businessmen and Pandas(priests) of Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar are at a  loss. The cause is rooted in the state government's…

Pandas at a loss as govt cancel Shravani Mela: Businessmen and Pandas(priests) of Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar are at a  loss. The cause is rooted in the state government's decision not to allow a month-long Sharvani mela.

"We are going to suffer a huge loss", cribs Deepak Panda who sells Pedas, echoing sentiments of many of his colleagues in Deoghar.

Hemant Soren government has decided not to allow Shravani mela to prevent the spread of Coronavirus infection among devotees at Deoghar, one of 12 'Jyotirlingas' of Bhagwan Shiva in India.

Since lakhs of devotees from all parts of the country and abroad come to Deoghar to offer holy water picked up from Basukinath over the Shiva linga at Deoghar, business thrives and Pandas(Priests) make lollies. This is not going to happen this time.

Aware of the threat of COVID-19 infection, Soren government decided to cancel the month-long Shravani mela which begins on July 6, 2020.