Cops deny permission for community Ganesh Puja in city, Cuttack
Bhubaneswar: Wary of the steady rise in Covid positive cases and deaths, the commissionerate police have decided not to permit Ganesh Puja celebrations in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack on August 22.
“In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, there are restrictions on large religious congregations. So, no permission has been given to puja mandaps to celebrate Ganesh Puja at the community level. Even Ganapati festival in Mumbai isn’t taking place this year. All are requested to cooperate,” the commissionerate police tweeted on Thursday.
In the previous years, police used to give permission to at least 150 puja mandaps in Bhubaneswar and 250 in Cuttack to organise community Ganesh Puja. About a fortnight ago, police held a discussion with some puja mandaps in Cuttack and sought their cooperation in suspending the annual festival.
Police said they would slap relevant sections of the IPC, disaster management act and epidemic diseases act against those who defy the order. “We have asked the personnel of police stations to keep vigil in their areas and sensitise local puja organisers to the need to desist from celebrating Ganesh Puja this time. Stringent action will be taken against the violators,” another police officer said.
Police said Ganesh Puja can be celebrated by people in their homes. “Our restriction is only applicable for community or colony-level celebrations that would usually draw crowds. Neither the crowded community puja nor the immersion procession will be allowed. People can worship Lord Ganesh in their houses. But they should not invite guests and relatives to celebrate the festival as it would lead to a congregation,” the officer said.
While the Covid outbreak has already taken the sheen off several festivals of different communities in the past four months, traders and shopkeepers here heaved a sigh of relief following restriction on the celebration of Ganesh Puja.
“We had been facing exploitation by goons and were forced to pay hefty chanda to different puja committees during big festivals like Ganesh Puja and Durga Puja. We have been spared this time,” said a garments store owner.