Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued COVID-appropriate guidelines for celebration of Ganesh Puja in the city on September 10.
The guidelines state:
—Congregation on the occasion of Ganesh Puja shall not be allowed in public. The Puja committees and organizers can conduct the puja in mandaps/pandals by adopting all COVID-19 protocols such as social distancing, wearing masks, proper sanitization, etc. They will have to obtain permission for holding the puja from an officer authorized by the Commissioner of Police.
—The puja shall be conducted indoors only for observance of rituals without any public participation, pomp and grandeur.
—The mandaps/pandals shall have to be covered on three sides and one side will be open. This will only be used by the priest and for rituals. This fourth side should also be covered properly so as to disallow public darshan of the idols.
—The idol size should be less than 4 feet.
—Public address system shall not be used during the puja or any other time.
—Not more than seven persons will be allowed inside the mandap/pandal. These will include organizers/priests/kartas/support staff. All those present shall have to follow COVID-19 protocols. The organizers shall ensure that only those who have been fully vaccinated are allowed for the puja.
—There shall be no immersion procession by the organizers. The idols will be immersed in artificial ponds to be created by BMC for this purpose.
—In educational institutes/coaching institcentresutes, the puja will be observed by following the above norms. The maximum number of participants will be 20 and all will have to adhere to COVID-19 protocol. The participants will be allowed inside the puja room to ensure that that social distancing of six feet is maintained by all of them. No feast or distribution of prasad will be allowed. The head of the educational/coaching institute shall ensure that those present are above 18 years of age and also fully vaccinated.
