Bhubaneswar: No public participation in Durga Puja this year

BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar municipal corporation (BMC) on Thursday issued guidelines for celebration of Durga Puja in the city between October 11 to October 15. Public participation will not be allowed in Durga Puja celebrations in the city this year.
Despite public protest over height of idols, the BMC has clear instructions that idol size should be less than four feet. Public address system will not be used during Puja or any other time on the day, said the BMC guidelines.
The committees or organisers can conduct the Puja in mandaps by adopting all Covid norms like social distancing, wearing of masks and sanitization. For this, they need to take permission from the officer authorised by the Commissioner of Police.
“The Puja will be conducted in indoor like conditions only for observance of rituals without any public participation, pomp grandeur,” said the civic body guideline. It further stated that Mandaps will have to be covered on three sides and one side to be opened only for entry of priests for rituals. Even the fourth side should be covered properly so that the public cannot view idols, said the BMC.
At any point of time, more than seven people, including priests/organisers/kartas/support staff, will not be allowed to the Puja mandap. People who will remain present on the Mandap need to follow Covid appropriate behaviour. Fully vaccinated people will be allowed for the observance of Puja.
The civic body clearly mentioned in the guidelines that organisers cannot hold an immersion procession this time. BMC has created artificial ponds where idols will be immersed. Maximum 10 people should be involved in the immersion process because size and weight of the idol has been limited this time, said the guideline.
Fully vaccinated persons can take part in the immersion process and they should adhere to Covid appropriate behaviour at the time of conducting rituals for immersion. Any religious procession of any kind or musical or entertainment programme by any public/group/club/puja committee will not be allowed during the puja period.
“The puja committee should inform their members to keep all permission/individual Covid vaccination certificate handy for inspection of enforcement agencies,” said the BMC guidelines.
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