Liquor sales will be completely prohibited in parts of Mudigere town on September 26 in view of the Hindu Maha Ganapathi Visarjana Shobhayatra. This is to be done to have law and order in place for the large religious procession to attract a lot of devotees and the public.
Chikkamagaluru Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Bhamwar Singh Meena has issued an order restricting the sale and business of liquor and other excise products within Mudigere town limits for a given period. The ban will continue from 6 am on September 26 to midnight.
During this time, licensed establishments selling alcoholic beverages will have to remain closed. This includes bars, wine shops, MSIL outlets and other licensed liquor-selling establishments in the notified area.
Why Did The Liquor Ban Come To Be and Why Is It Still In Place?
Hindu Maha Ganapathi Visarjana Mahotsava is scheduled for September 26. The idol has been installed at Adyantaya Rangamandira in Mudigere, and the immersion will be celebrated during a procession through the town.
There are going to be a lot of devotees and members of the public coming together in the Shobhayatra. Given the anticipated crowd movement and the need to maintain public order during the event, the liquor restriction has been imposed by the district administration as a preventive measure.
By doing so, the administration will keep the procession and the celebrations peaceful, they said.
What Does The District Administration's Order Say?
The restriction goes beyond the sale of liquor. During the prohibited period, the sale, supply, transportation, storage and manufacture of excise products have also been restricted in the specified area.
The order covers all alcoholic beverages, liquor and beer, as well as other excise-related products. Licensed businesses are required to follow the instructions and keep their operations closed during the period specified by the district administration.
Action will be taken against individuals or businesses that violate the order.
Police and Security Arrangements
With the procession expected to draw large crowds, police and district authorities will likely put security and traffic-management arrangements in place at key locations in Mudigere around the city in advance and at important places of interest.
The procession could increase the number of people and vehicles in the centre of the town. Sensitive places and crowded areas will be monitored to guarantee that the event goes on.
The liquor restriction is therefore part of the broader preventive measures being taken in connection with the Ganapathi immersion celebrations.
Public Urged To Cooperate
The district administration has appealed to residents, devotees and visitors to cooperate with the authorities and follow the guidelines issued for the event.
Individuals in the procession are encouraged to keep it peaceful, and the ceremonies in which people take part are orderly. Alcohol retailers and other businesses would be warned not to violate the law as well, authorities said.
Any violation of the prohibition order will be enforced against the affected people or businesses, the administration has warned.
Liquor Sales Completely Suspended During The Specified Period
As per the order, liquor sales in Mudigere town will be suspended for 18 hours, from 6 am to 12 midnight on September 26. Bars, wine shops, MSIL outlets and other licensed establishments will not sell alcoholic beverages during this period.
The restriction comes as Mudigere prepares for the Hindu Maha Ganapathi Visarjana Shobhayatra, one of the major public religious events in the town.
There are thousands of devotees on the way, so public safety, peace and law and order need to be kept at the forefront of the public mind. Residents and visitors are also expected to cooperate with the district administration and police personnel in the celebrations and follow all official instructions for the procession.
