By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Nov. 9: Owing to COVID-19 pandemic, the government would not allow playing deusi-bhailo in the Kathmandu Valley this Tihar.
According to Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kathmandu, Janakaraj Dahal, the government would not allow a single group to play deusi-bhailo this year as such practice was likely to increase the cases of the coronavirus further in the society.
"We are yet to hold a formal meeting to decide further in this regard but it is sure that three districts -- Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur -- will not let anyone play deusi-bhailo this time," CDO Dahal said.
"As I've myself tested positive for the COVID-19 and it is already 12 days now on Sunday, we will hold a meeting among three DAOs of the valley to decide and issue a fresh notice in this regard within next three days," CDO Dahal said. The government will impose a total ban in deusi-bhailo this year and if anyone is found doing so, they will be brought to a legal action instantly, he said.
"Although there will be policemen in the community to monitor Tihar festival related moments, the community should also themselves inform the local police to stop deusi-bhailo in their own community," CDO Dahal said.
In the previous years, the DAO used to impose time-limit to play deusi-bhailo in the valley. Normally, the government used to prohibit playing deusi-bhailo after 10:00 pm in the valley in the past.