Election Commission shifts two booths in Mohal to make room for deities

MOHAL(Kullu): When Dev Bhoomi's deities are out, even the Election Commission (EC) has to make room for them. Residents of the village, around 8km from Kullu town, forced EC to shift two polling booths to another building to avoid any discomfort to the 'devtas' (deities).

A day before the elections, when political parties and candidates are keeping their fingers crossed, people here are busy preparing for the concluding celebrations of the three-day Mohal Jattar (local fair). On May 7, when the state goes to polls, local deities, after completing their sojourn, would be departing from the fair venue to their respective temples.

The hill state, known as Dev Bhoomi, is home to several hundred devtas. The annual Mohal Jattar has caused a few concerns for villagers and the administration this year.

EC officials had notified the new and old panchayat buildings in the village as polling booths. But these premises have traditionally been used as venue for the deities' sthaan ( place of stay) during their visit to the fair every year.

"The building was used for panchayat polling earlier but this time polling and the deities' departure fall on the same day. The area around Aadi Brahma and devtas accompanying him has to be maintained well. So we urged the local administration to shift the polling booths to the nearby Mahila Mandal Bhavan," said village pradhan Ishra Devi. EC officials agreed that it was a rare reason cited for shifting a polling booth.

"After receiving a representation, we had a detailed discussion with local representatives and candidates and a proposal was sent to the Election Commission for change of venue," said district election officer Rakesh Kanwar. Both polling booths of upper Mohal and Mohal in Kullu district, which are part of Mandi Lok Sabha constituency, have 1,385 registered voters.