Bhubaneswar: Durga Puja committees are conducting puja this year by adhering to all government guidelines due to COVID-19 pandemic. People are missing a glimpse of Maa Durga in the various pandals, decorations, colourful lights etc.
Saheed Nagar here has arranged for online darshan and home delivery of prasad to tide over the difficult situation the entire world is passing through.
“Puja has started. We are badly missing devotees in the puja pandal this year. For them, we have arranged online darshan and home delivery of prasad,” said Saheed Nagar Durga Puja Committee secretary, Narayan Mohapatra.
“We are providing prasad within two km radius of the pandal in Saheed Nagar. For the prasad, devotees have to pre-order through online,” the secretary said.
The organisers have also arranged for online pushpanjali through their Facebook page. “We have a Facebook page, Saheed Nagar Durga Puja Samiti. We will go live through this page at the time of puja from Shasthi to Maha Dasami. Besides, the devotees can give online Pushpanjali,” informed Mohapatra.
As responsible organsiers the Saheed Nagar puja committee has arranged for COVID tests for its priests and cooks as a precaution. “We are also conducting COVID-19 test for priests and cooks to host the festival safely. Only seven persons will be present in the Durga Puja Pandal,” he added.
According to Mohapatra, like every year, artisan Laxmidhar Rana from Cuttack has made the idol this year. Jitu Patnaik from Cuttack has made all the ornaments as paper ornaments are being used this time. The budget for this year puja is nearly Rs 2.5 lakh.
“I wish you all happy Durga Puja. I would like to request the devotees to stay at home in this pandemic time. They should wear mask while going out and maintain social distancing. Enjoy the virtual puja by staying at home,” said Mohapatra.
“We have been organising Durga Puja here since 1978. We have never seen this type of situation before. Hope we can celebrate the festival in a grand way next year,” he signed off.
