Durga Puja is the biggest festival in Bengal.
Kolkata / New Delhi:
A day before Bengal’s biggest festival kicks off, the Calcutta High Court today eased its order declaring Durga Puja pandalos “no-entry zones” for visitors amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. After 400 top Durga Puja organizers in the city called for a review of the order, the court today allowed up to 45 people to enter at a time.
Organizers took to the pitch on Tuesday as part of the Durgotsav Forum, a body that brings together Durga Puja organizers.
Dhakis, or traditional drummers, can perform in “a limited number” just outside the no-entry zone in each pandal, the court said today, adding that “the list of allowed persons should be posted daily.” These lists will be posted outside the pandals each day at 8am.
While the largest pandals, which have an area of over 300 square meters, can hold up to 60 people, no more than 45 people can be allowed at a time. The smallest pandals can include up to 15 people.
The court refused to issue orders on the appeals of Kalyan Banerjee, who appeared before the organizers, to allow two important Puja rituals: Anjali and Sindoor Khela.
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