‘Celebrate Navratri, Dussehra in subdued manner’
30 Sep 2020 01:35:57
Staff Reporter :
No Garba, Dandiya events during the festival
Mandals must conduct on-line Darshan for devotees
Government of Maharashtra urged citizens to celebrate the ensuing Navratri and Dussehra festival in a restrained manner in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government on Tuesday issued a GR stating the Navratri celebration guidelines amid this infectious crisis. The Government stated in the GR that every citizen should co-operate in this festival in the same way as they co-operated during Ganesh festival, to contain the spread of COVID-19. Maharashtra is the worst-hit state in the country by coronavirus and cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad and Nagpur experiencing tremendous hike in cases on daily basis. Keeping the situation in mind, Government issued the guidelines for the celebration of the festival. State Government instructed local administrations and police departments to keep strict vigil on the celebration and take stern action against the violators.
Every Navdurga Mandal must have to register with local administration and require police permission for the celebration. Every Mandal must have to follow the High Court order and the rules and regulation implemented by local administration for erection of Pandals. The decoration of Pandals must be simple and the height of the idol should not be more than 4 feet. Instead of clay idols the Mandals should use metal idols for rituals. Avoid crowd in exhibitions during the celebration. Mandals must create awareness about the State Government’s campaign ‘My Family My Responsibility’ during the celebration.
Garba and Dandiya events during the festival is restricted and Mandals will not be allowed to conduct such events. Instead of Garba and Dandiya, Mandals can conduct blood donation and health check-up camps during the festival. Mandals have to assure that no gathering will be allowed during Aarti, Bhajan and other rituals. Mandals should arrange on-line Devi Darshan or use local cable networks for Darshan to avoid any gathering.
Thermal screening, arrangement of sanitizers, compulsion of face mask are needed inside the Mandal premises and the management must have to take care about all these things during the celebration. Citizens while taking darshan of Goddess Durga should maintain propoer social distancing and the volunteers must have to keep strict vigil on it. The rituals should be performed at home and Mandal itself before the idol immersion. Idol immersion must be performed in simple manner and no crowed will be allowed. Artificial tanks will be prepared with the help of civic bodies, NGOs, social groups at immersion spots. Not more than 5 persons will be allowed at Mandals during the celebration. The Ravan Dahan event will be performed with full restriction and Covid-19 norms.