In total, some 50 Pandals have decided not to celebrate Durga Puja this year (Archive)
New Delhi:
The Kali Mandir Society of Chittaranjan Park, the largest Durga Puja Pandal in the national capital, will be among the 50 entities of this type that will not celebrate the festival this year due to COVID-19.
This will be the first time in 47 years that Puja Pandal, in the South Delhi neighborhood, will postpone the annual celebrations.
The decision in this regard was made today at a meeting of 12 of these important committees with the local administration. This was taking into account that a large part of the population in the area, especially many members of the organizing committees, are seniors, the most vulnerable group in terms of coronavirus.
Several other smaller bodies of this type have also decided to follow the decision of the 12.
Chittaranjan Park is known for the fanfare with which it celebrates Durga Puja, with a variety of Durga idols thronged every year by hundreds of food-loving festival revelers and Pandal jumping.
“It will all be on a much smaller scale … and with precautions,” said Anita Haldar, deputy secretary of the Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir Society. Even the idol is only 5 feet tall this time instead of the usual 16 feet, he said.
“The immersion will also be inside the temple premises this time instead of the usual large procession. All workers and committee members entering the temple are being vetted by Covid,” Haldar said.
Local MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj said that for religious reasons alone, a small Kalash Puja / Ghat Puja will be attended by 10-15 committee members. “This will ensure the continuity of bidding by these committees,” said Bhardwaj, who has asked the administration and local police to help the committees prevent outsiders from entering these areas.
Arrangements have also been made to deliver the prasad to the homes of those who make reservations online, Ms Hadlar said, reassuring those who might be upset that they cannot get “darshan.”
“Before everyone visited the mother. This time the mother will visit everyone’s homes,” he said.
Delhi has reported around 3.3 lakh of COVID-19 cases so far with around 6,000 people dying from the disease. Authorities are particularly concerned about the festival season crowds causing an increase in its spread.
The Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, for example, has said that Onam festivities in Kerala had caused a huge increase in the number of cases.
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