Ganesh Puja: COVID-19 Dampens Festive Spirit In Odisha’s Mayurbhanj

Baripada: The restrictions due to COVID pandemic have dampened the festive spirit of Ganesh Puja in Mayurbhanj which will miss the pomp and grandeur associated with the celebration this year too.

The Ganesh Puja, which is mostly celebrated by the students with enthusiasm, has been reduced to a token affair due to the COVID guidelines of the state government which prohibit large gathering at any place.

“We were celebrating Ganesh Puja with grandeur. Wearing new dress, we used to go to school with friends and attend feast. Due to COVID-19, everything has changed. We will miss those celebrations,” said Namita, a student.

“We cannot celebrate the puja like earlier. We cannot invite our friends to our puja nor participate in their celebration. This year, the puja will be performed in the presence of school teachers and staff only,” said Gobind Chandra Rout, a teacher.

Besides the students, the idol-makers are a dispirited lot due to the pandemic related restrictions. As per the government guidelines, Ganesh idol is not allowed to be more than four feet in height and not more than seven persons are permitted at the puja pandal.

“Due to COVID-19, we have faced a huge loss this year. We are producing only small idols as per the guidelines. The customers are also not purchasing big ones for the puja which has been confined to homes only,” said Biswanth, an artisan.

Speaking in similar vein, another artisan of Baripada Shobhakar Behera said, “Due to the pandemic, the demand for the idols has drastically come down. After sustaining loss last year, we were thinking of producing big idols this year to earn some profit. But that is no more possible and we have to sell only small idols.”