The Jharkhand Government on October 2 issued guidelines that will have to be followed while celebrating Durga Puja and Dusshera amid the coronavirus pandemic, but the Puja committee members want some relaxation in guidelines issued by the Soren Government.
As per the guidelines, the Puja committees have to barricade or cover the Puja pandals from all four sides while organising, but the committees demand is that pandals should be barricaded from three sides. One side facing Goddess should be opened.
Also, as per the guidelines issued by the Hemant Soren government states that only seven persons will be allowed inside a Durga Puja pandal/ mandap at any given point in time. This would include the organisers, priests, and other support staff. Public participation will not be allowed during the performance of rituals.
However, the committees demand is that keeping in mind the coronavirus pandemic, limited number of persons at pandals should be allowed so that social distancing norms is not disturbed. Munchun Rai, convener of Ranchi District Durga Puja committee said, “As per Covid 19 guidelines, there should be six feet distance between two persons. So, if a puja pandal is an area of 1000 square feet than at least 60 persons should be allowed at pandals.”
Rai also said that they have met state public health and sanitation minister Mithilesh Thakur in this connection demanding relaxations in guidelines. “The Minister has gone through our demand and assured us of providing more relaxations after meeting CM Hemant Soren,” said Rai.
Rai said that in fight against corona the puja committees are with government but the state government should also provide further relaxations keeping in mind the religious sentiments of people.
Rai said as per guidelines idols height has been fixed at four feet, but some puja committees have constructed idols which are six to eight feet tall. Such puja committees should not be penalised, he added.
Sources said drinking water and sanitation Minister Thakur is going to meet Chief Minister in this connection so that puja committees get some relaxations in Covid-19 guidelines for Durga Puja and Dusshera.
There shall be no musical or any other entertainment or cultural programme. No community feast or prasad/ bhog distribution function will be organised. No invitation will be issued in any form by the organisers of puja committees.” Idol immersion will be allowed only at places approved by the district administration, the order read. Also, during idol immersion only three persons will be allowed, the committees want relaxations as fixing three persons for idol immersion will be tough task for committee members.
Capital Ranchi hosts the biggest Puja celebration in Jharkhand with more than 200 big and small pandals being set up in Ranchi.