Ara: The Bhojpur district administration has issued directives to maintain law and order and avoid any untoward incident during the Ram Nawami procession that will pass through the town on March 25.

At a meeting with district officials, Bhojpur district magistrate Sanjeev Kumar banned taking out of any procession during Ram Nawami without license or playing of high-pitched music by disc jockeys.

He warned that if the procession was taken out without prior permission, block development officers, circle officers and station house officers of the areas concerned would be held responsible and action taken against them.

District magistrate Sanjeev authorised SDOs and SDPOs to verify the procession's route chart.

The district magistrate said that 1 out of 50 from among those expected in the crowd will be issued joint license.

The district magistrate said the organisers have to get no-objection certificates from residents of the area where people from other castes reside. Otherwise, new procession routes will be selected.

The district magistrate banned exhibition of firearms in the procession though he allowed keeping of traditional weapons, but with a rider.

He also banned DJs from crossing the 80-decibel bar set by the administration when playing.

He also directed organisers to make available lists of songs that are to be played during the procession and names and addresses of announcers in advance.

Shambhuji Chaurasia, general secretary, Ram Nawami Shobhayatra Samiti, expressed anguish over the district magistrate's decision but said they were ready to comply with the order.

It is worth mentioning here that the Ram Navami Shobhayatra has been taken out for the last 19 years with enthusiasm and traditional manner from Ramgarhia.

It passes through the main thoroughfare of the town, covering a course of around 15km before culminating at Ramana Maidan.

Even Muslim brethren participate in the function. They set up sherbat and sweet stalls to be given to devotees, further strengthening the bond of communal harmony that Bhojpur district is known for.