By Our Correspondent, Bajhang, Apr. 8:  The locals of Bajhang have celebrated Banniki Chaitali festival as usual, in clear violation of the
ongoing nationwide lockdown imposed by the government to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The festival, celebrated at Bannichaur, Chhabispathivara Gaunpalika, attracted thousands of people, going against the government’s ban on large gatherings.  Yet, the local administration seemed completely unaware of it.

The District Administration Office had already formally asked the locals and the authorities to not celebrate the festival this year, in light of the global pandemic. But the locals completely ignored it and went about their celebrations.

While the festival went on, the police were conspicuously absent from the scene, according to eye witnesses.

Chief District Officer Umesh Pandey said that they did not know that the festival had been organised despite their request to stop it.

“We had already written to the local level to stop the festival a week ago. We did not know that it had taken place until much later,” he said.

Gaunpalika vice-chair Radhika Ratala Joshi said that the people had sneaked their way in.

She said, “We had banned any large gatherings during the festival but the people sneaked in without our knowledge.”