“This year Puja is being organized and celebrated in the midst of this unprecedented pandemic. This calls for adequate and adequate health and safety measures for citizens. The Puja Committees must ensure health and safety standards for themselves and the participants. and visitors, “the government said in a statement.
Among the guidelines, social distancing, the mandatory use of masks and hand sanitizers at all times by visiting pandals, the government established a detailed list.
Here are the following guidelines set by the state government for the upcoming holidays:
one) Spacious open pandals with independent entrance and exit: Pandals should be spacious and kept open from all sides. If in the event that it is essential to have the roof closed, the sides must be kept open and if the sides must be blocked, the roof must be kept open.
Additionally, pandals must maintain adequate space and arrangements to ensure physical distancing in terms of existing COVID-19 pandemic regulations. There should be separate Entry and Exit arrangements with separate doors. Mixing and crowding should be avoided in all places.
Floor markings and other markings should be made on entry and exit routes and assembly points to ensure compliance with physical distance regulations.
two) Mandatory masks and hand sanitizers: The use of masks will be mandatory for all visitors visiting the pandals. To meet any demands, the organizers will need to make adequate arrangements for the distribution of masks in the immediate vicinity of the pandal to visitors who inadvertently arrive at the pandal facility without wearing masks.
Similarly, the use and availability of hand sanitizers should be mandatory in the pandal facility and neighborhood.
3) Volunteers and decongested rituals: Puja organizers must maintain volunteers in adequate numbers to ensure compliance with the rules of physical distancing between visitors, to enforce the use of masks and the use of hand sanitizers. Volunteers themselves must wear masks and face shields for safety.
“Taking into account the health security of the participants and organizers, Anjo prayed Bitomn or Sindoor Khelo They should be organized by the Puja Committees in a planned manner and, as far as possible, in smaller groups with staggered schedules, “the government said in a statement.
Priests should use microphones to pronounce the mantra, so that the sound reaches the faithful who are even far away and people do not have to gather close together in small spaces. Devotees can be encouraged to offer Anjali with flowers brought from homes, so that the flower collection points in the pandals do not become congestion points.
4) No cultural program No programs will be allowed in / near the Puja pandal facilities.
5) Discreet Award Accommodation: Judges from various Puja award programs should not be allowed to enter the Puja facility in large convoys and in large numbers. No more than two judge cars should be allowed to visit a pandal at a time. Ideally, all pub judging visits should be virtual and physical visits should be limited to lean hours (between 10 am and 3 pm).
5) Emphasis on electronic and social media: Organizers and public authorities must use social and electronic networks to raise awareness and avoid large concentrations and crowds on the roads and near pandals. Organizers / volunteers and police personnel on duty will facilitate the continuous movement of visitors to avoid unnecessary crowds.
7) Discreet openings and dives: Openings and dives should be low-key, minimal events without much pomp and grandeur. Whenever possible, the inauguration should take place in virtual mode. In all cases, masks, disinfectants, physical distancing and the principle of no crowds will be followed.
The allocation of Slow Ghat time to different Puja committees must be strictly adhered to. The ghats will be properly disinfected before and during dives with arrangements that facilitate the physical distance standards required in the current situation. The Durga idol must be taken to the ghats directly without stopping anywhere avoiding unnecessary detours.
8) Online permit: Physical contacts should be avoided in the permit, also the procedures of obtaining. The online system for the required permit should be organized by the concerned authorities.
9) Spread the holidays over a greater number of days: Adherence to physical non-distancing and other health and safety measures that must be guaranteed during current times may need to space the festival for a greater number of days. The Puja committees should do the necessary advance planning to facilitate the visit to the Puja pandals.
10) No carnival: In the context of the pandemic and the need to have physical distancing rules, this year the State Immersion Carnival will not be held. Similarly, melas and carnivals will not be allowed near Puja Pandals.
Since the management of public health in times of pandemic will entail higher costs and energy for the organizers, the State Government and other public and private organizations will also help the Puja committees / organizers.
The state government will also provide ₹50,000 to each Durga puja state committee, Mamata announced at a press conference.
The state will provide ₹2,000 to Durga Puja street vendors. To do this, a list of 75,000 street vendors was prepared, Mamata added.
A government official also said that the state has made adequate provisions to meet the demand for energy in the metropolis and districts during the holidays.
“We are provisioning for a five percent excess power demand in this Durga Puja than last year. We have provided for a demand of 8,400MW in the state. However, the power demand is likely to be lower due to to the pandemic, “said West Bengal Energy Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay said.
In addition, the fire service authorities will not charge any fees for their services. The state will provide these emergency services at no cost.
The administration and law enforcement authorities will provide the necessary help and assistance to all Puja committees / organizers as required.
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