4 ARTIFICIAL PONDS READY FOR IMMERSION IN BERHAMPUR
Berhampur: As curtains started rolling down on the low-key Dussehra celebration under the shadow of COVID-19 in the city, the local administration extended the restrictions to the final show of immersion of idols to four temporary artificial ponds.
As an environment measure, the administration has prepared the ponds near the First Gate, the Mango Market, Gosaninuagaon and Ambapua Vivek Vihar to prevent pollution of water bodies.
“We have requested the puja committees to follow COVID-19 guidelines strictly. The committees were asked to immerse their idols in the nearest artificial ponds,” said a senior official.
Some puja committees have decided to immerse their idols on Monday as they have already performed the ‘Dasami’ rituals on Sunday. But others are preparing to immerse the idols on Tuesday.
“We have decided to accompany only two members with each idol mounted on a vehicle and a few others would follow it to the artificial pond on bikes,” said one member of a puja committee.
Following the COVID-19 guidelines, the committees had kept the celebrations a low key affair by limiting the height of the idols and toning down embellishments this year.
