COVID 19 Guidelines to Abide by During This Ganeshotsav
Keeping in mind the rising cases of coronavirus in India, state governments have issued guidelines for Ganesh Chaturthi this year. The ten-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival, during which Sarvajanik Mandals (sub-districts) install idols in roadside pandals will begin from August 22.
Only 5 persons will be allowed to participate in the immersion rituals of Ganesh idols during the Ganpati festival next month according to a new order by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The Ganpati festival which is scheduled for August 22 this year usually sees large gatherings of people participating in different rituals.
The step has been taken to curb the spread of the virus in the state which has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the country. The BMC has asked people to not indulge in any activity that may involve too many people and become a health hazard such as carrying out a procession from home. The report says that the civic agency has warned that actions that will attract action under the Epidemic Act 1897, the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the Indian Penal Code. Some of the suggestions made by the BMC include:
- Following safety norms for COVID 19 such as using a face mask, shield, hand sanitizers and following social distancing norms.
- Using eco-friendly idols and immersing it only at home or in artificial lakes.
- Avoiding processions of domestic idols from housing societies etc.
- Keeping children and elderly away from immersion sites.
The state which has so far recorded more than 604K coronavirus confirmed cases and more than 20,000 deaths. Mumbai thereby, has cancelled the ‘Lalbaugcha Raja celebrations’, the biggest point of attraction of Mumbai's 11-day Ganesh festival. Mumbai's Lalbaughcha Raja Ganeshotsav Mandal said that a blood and plasma donation camp will be set up in its place.
For the first time in 93 years, Lord Ganesh will not be seen Lalbaug as the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav Mandal has decided on the cancellation due to COVID-19.
"We are cancelling the celebrations this year. Instead, we will utilise the 11 days to organise blood donation and plasma donation activities. The next Ganesh Chaturthi celebration will be in September 2021 for Lalbaugcha Raja," Sudhir Sitaram Salvi, part of the Lalbaugcha Raja organising committee told Moneycontrol.
While several Ganpati mandals in Mumbai have decided to hold the festival in February 2021 during Magh Chaturthi, the organisers of Lalbaugcha Raja have decided to completely cancel the Ganeshotsav 2020 till September 9, 2021, i.e. until the next year's Ganesh Chaturthi.
The reason for not doing it during Magh Chaturthi is because most volunteers at Lalbaugcha Raja are college youth who will get busy as final year examinations are held across colleges in Mumbai in February.
Lalbaugcha Raja or King of Lalbaug is among the most popular and most visited Ganesh idols in Mumbai. Every year, millions of devotees, including celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Shilpa Shetty Sonu Sood, Ajay Devgn and others visit the famed pandal of Lalbaughcha Raja to get blessings of the deity.
Every day, 80,000 to 1 lakh people visit the pandal. During the festival, devotees offer donations in crores, including gold and silver ornaments being offered to the 'King of Lalbaug', as per the report.
In June, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray called for a simple and low-key Ganpati festival celebration this year in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and asked Ganesh mandals (sub-district) to undertake social welfare programmes.
Thackeray said the threat of coronavirus is not yet over and therefore, it will not be possible to celebrate the Ganesh festival with the usual pomp and gaiety. He said there should be no crowding or processions during the festival.
During a video conference with various Ganesh mandals, Thackeray asked them to set an example before the world about celebrating the festival in a simple way while keeping in mind their social responsibility.
Keeping in mind the rising cases of coronavirus in India, state governments have issued guidelines for Ganesh Chaturthi this year. The ten-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival, during which Sarvajanik Mandals' install idols in roadside pandals will begin from August 22.
Special attention will be given to anti-social elements and rumour mongers in Maharashtra. The Maharashtra government made it mandatory for all 'mandals' to take prior permission from the concerned municipality or local authority for Ganeshotsav celebrations.
The government has capped the maximum idol height at 4 feet Even the idols installed at home cannot be taller than two feet. Ganesh Mandals can also postpone immersion of idols.
Processions to mark arrival and immersion of idols will not be allowed. There should be no crowds during daily aarti' and noise pollution norms must be followed.
Earlier, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee also stated that there will be no large congregations, community celebrations or idol immersion at public places on Ganesh Chaturthi in the national capital this year. Issuing a set of guidelines, the DDMA said that during Ganesh Chaturthi, no idol of Lord Ganesha will be set up in public places.
A fine of ₹ 50,000 will be imposed on violators who proceeds with Idol immersion in the Yamuna river.
The Delhi Police and civic bodies have been directed to check the entry of vehicles carrying idols into the city.
Karnataka: The Karnataka government allowed pandals for Ganesh Chaturthi, reversing its order from last week. The revised guidelines issued by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa say public celebrations can be held on August 22, in a restricted manner.
- One Ganesh pandal permitted per ward or village, and the organisers should not allow more than 20 people in the pandals at a time.
- Cultural programmes are not allowed.
- No public processions are allowed.
- People should immerse the idol at home.
- Public Ganeshotsav organisers must immerse the idols within the locality.
- Devotees have to compulsorily wear face masks and follow all social distancing norms strictly.
Ganesh Utsav 2020 Guidelines issued by Pune Police denotes that Ganesha idols should be purchased online.
- Idols should be sold only at allocated open spaces, not on the roadside.
- No processions will be allowed during the arrival, installation or immersion of the idol.
- No crowding is allowed at pandals.
- The Pune Police said the number of devotees attending a puja at any point in time should not exceed five.
- Ganesh mandals associated with temples have been urged to keep their idols in their premises to perform rituals during the festival. For other mandals, the Pune Municipal Corporation will allocate small areas to set up pandals.
- Ganesh mandals have been asked to set up water tanks on their premises for immersion, as have residential societies for home idols.
- The Aarogya Setu app should be compulsory for mandal office-bearers.
- All those present must adhere to COVID safety norms such as physical distancing and use of masks and sanitisers.
- Rituals should be performed only by mandal office-bearers.
- Devotees can witness them online, via video conferencing or mandal members can take videos and send them across.
- Devotees' visits to pandals should be restricted through an online token system.
- Pandals are not allowed to set up food stalls or any other shop on the premises.
- Mandals have been urged to organise blood donation camps or other welfare activities instead of cultural programmes, all adhering to all safety norms.
- Ganesh mandals have been urged not to put up elaborate decorations to avoid drawing attention.
Ganesh Utsav 2020 Guidelines for Goa Committees have been asked to limit celebrations to one and a half days.
- Not more than 10 people at a time should be allowed to attend the rituals. Fireworks are not permitted.
Individual celebrations should be restricted to members of the household alone. No Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations of any kind are allowed in containment zones.
- Only two members of a family will be allowed for immersions.
- No common vehicle is allowed to be used for immersion. All parties must use their private vehicles.
Immersions are allowed between 5pm and 10pm at: Santa Monica Jetty; Ferry Warf, Panaji; Miramar Beach; Caranzalem Beach near Martins and Swimsea; Ferry Warf, Ribandar; Captain of Ports Jetty; Panaji; Manaswada, Sao Pedro and Fondvem, Ribandar; Four Pillars, Mala; Near Old PWD Office, Patto.
No processions are allowed while bringing the idol for immersion. No gathering after immersion is allowed.
Ganesh Utsav 2020 Guidelines for Telangana: The Telangana government has urged the public to celebrate the festival at home.
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority will procure and distribute 80,000 clay idols among devotees as part of efforts to ensure that celebrations are restricted to homes.
Idol immersion or installation is not allowed in public places. Public celebration of the festival is prohibited.
This re-assures the devotees that the state governments will allow the celebrations albeit with restrictions. Earlier, it was feared that the state governments may not allow the festival considering the rising virus infections in the state. India is one of the hot spots for the pandemic with over 2.77 Million confirmed cases and over 52,000 deaths as of 19th August 2020; 1:45pm.
