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News Desk: Ahead of the Durga Puja celebration, the government of West Bengal has issued covid guidelines for puja committees to follow across the state.
Like the previous year, puja pandals must be spacious and be kept open on all sides, even in the case of a closed ceiling, the official order said. Pandals should have enough space for maintaining physical distancing with separate entry and exit points. Floor markings and other signage at these points should be mandatory on entry and exit routes to avoid crowding at these points.
Hand sanitiser must, volunteers to wear masks
The state government has made the use and availability of hand sanitiser mandatory inside the pandals. Masks must be worn by all visitors and volunteers at all times. No one will be allowed inside the premises without a face covering. There should be arrangements made inside the pandals to distribute masks to anyone, without wearing one.
Puja committees should have enough volunteers to ensure compliance with the norms of physical distancing among visitors, and for enforcing the wearing of masks and the use of hand sanitiser. Volunteers themselves should wear face masks and face shields for safety.
Rituals and events
Keeping in view the health and safety of participants and organizers, Anjali on Ashtami ( eighth day), distribution of prasad and ‘sindoor khela’ (on Dashami) should be organized in a phased manner, and to the extent possible in smaller groups.
Devotees may be encouraged to offer Anjali with flowers brought from homes, so that the flower collection points in the pandals do not become congestion-points.
Priests should use microphones to chant the mantra so that it is heard by worshippers standing even far away and people do not have to assemble closely in small spaces.
Restricted cultural programme, immersion celebration
Cultural programmes in and near the puja pandal premises should not be allowed. The state immersion carnival should not be held this year and other melas and carnivals near pandals will not be allowed.
Inaugurations and immersions of idols should be low-key and held in minimalist events without much pomp and grandeur. Wherever possible, the inauguration should be in virtual mode.
Pre-planned allocation of time of ghat (river bank) slots to different puja committees should be strictly adhered to. Ghats shall be properly sanitised before and during immersion with arrangements that facilitate the required physical distancing norms under the current situation. The idols must be taken to the ghats directly without any stopover at any place, avoiding unnecessary diversions.
Emphasis on virtual processes
Electronic and social media should be used by the organizers and public authorities to make people aware to avoid large assemblies and crowding on roads and near pandals. Organisers, volunteers and police personnel on duty should facilitate continuous movement of visitors to avoid unnecessary crowding.
Physical contact must be avoided in the permission-obtaining procedures also. Online systems for required permission should be arranged by the concerned authorities.
Adherence to the physical distancing norms and other health safety measures that are required to be ensured during the current times may need spacing out the festival over a larger number of days. Puja committees should do the necessary advance planning that facilitates visits to pandals from Tritiya (the third day) itself.
Low-key award judging
Judges for various puja award programmes should not be allowed to enter the pandal or puja premises in huge convoys and large numbers. No more than two cars of judges at a time should be allowed to visit a pandal. Ideally, all visits for ‘judging’ should be virtual and physical visits should be confined between 10am and 3pm.
Assistance from government and other bodies
Since public health management during the pandemic will entail greater costs, the state government along with other public and private organisations will help the organisers in ways they can, and free of cost.
The State Government Fire Service authorities will not charge for their emergency services.
The local bodies (urban and rural) shall also provide their services free of cost, and no charges will be levied on the committees.
Concessional power (at the rate of 50 per cent) shall be provided by the power utility organisations. Separate notifications shall be issued by respective organisations in this regard.
A one-time financial assistance of Rs 50,000 per club will be provided by the state government to enable them to undertake the required arrangements to address the current pandemic situation, in addition to the other customary public services. The details will be elaborated in the government order that would follow.
The administration, police authorities will provide necessary help and assistance to all the committees and organisers as would be required by them.
Earlier the state government said that the restriction relating to movement of people and vehicles between 11 pm and 5 am is relaxed from October 10 to October 20, keeping Durga Puja celebration in mind.
