In light of the pandemic, Kali Puja committees in the State capital have decided to shun all pomp and celebrate the festival in a subtle manner. The festival slated to be celebrated on the same day as Diwali- November 14, will be a low key affair this year.
The much awaited festival will not only have smaller structures with no fanfare but will also have restrictions on the entry of visitors. The guidelines issued by the State government state that the pandals will have to be barricaded on all sides to restrict the entry of visitors while only a maximum of 15 people can be present in the premises at a given time.
“As per the guidelines issued by the administration, the festival will be celebrated without the usual grandeur. Apart from the main pandal, the attractive gates leading up to the deity will also be seen missing. Anything that used to attract revellers in the past will not be there,” said Vinay Singh, president, Ranchi Mahanagar Kali Puja Committee (RMKPC).
With restrictions being imposed on social gatherings, crowded streets, serpentine queues and food stalls- anything that catches the public’s eye will be gone this year.
To avoid any crowds, the committees have also agreed to not have any bhog distribution which is generally done the next day. “Puja cannot happen without offering prasad to Maa Kali and once offered it can be thrown away. We have decided that the bhog will be distributed amongst the committee members and not to the general public this time,” said Amarnath Sarkar, Chairman Navyuvak Kali Puja Committee, Kokar.
“Kali Puja is celebrated in a smaller way as compared to Durga Puja. Keeping the present situation in mind, the festival will be celebrated as per the rituals and traditions. Last year we had shown the difference between urban and rural children while this year we had planned on showing the nine forms of Maa Kali. Following the directives, thematic pandals will be missing while a simple structure about 15 feet broad and 20 feet high has been erected. As against a budget of around Rs 4 lakh spent the previous year, this time the budget is also of just Rs 1 lakh,” added Sarkar.
The organisers have also made provision for hand sanitisers while revellers without a mask will be denied entry.