No Dandiya, Garba During Navratri Festival In Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad
Pune, 5th October 5, 2021: As the Navratri festival begins on Thursday, Maharashtra State Government has issued guidelines. Accordingly, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and District administration have issued orders for their respective areas.
Although the second wave of Covid-19 has passed, the fag end of its tail is still can be witnessed in few parts of the state. Considering it, it was important to celebrate the festival keeping in mind the Covid-19 protocols so that the festival can be celebrated in healthy and safe ways.
Following are the guidelines
• Under the ‘Break the Chain’, guidelines it is mandatory for the mandals to take permission from the authorities
• The mandals should ensure that the mandap has adequate space
• Since covid-19 protocol is in place, the domestic and public celebrations of the festival should be kept low key affair
• The Goddess idol should not be more than 4 feet in height for public places and two feet in height for household celebrations
• Like last year the idol should be either of metal or shadoo mati. It should be immersed at home or the municipal tank so that there is no threat to environment
• You can collect money for the festival but should ensure that there is no crowd attracted due to advertisement. The mandals should also spread awareness about “My Family, My responsibility’, during the festival
• Garba, Dandiya and other cultural programs should not be organised. Instead of it, health camps or blood donation camps can be organised. Spread awareness about diseases like malaria, dengue etc
• Darshan can be taken online or through cable network, website or Facebook
• While organising aarti, Bhajan, kirtan and other cultural programs ensure that the place does not get crowded
• Not more than five persons should be present at the mandap
• No food stalls are allowed in or near the mandap
• On the 10th day, Ravan burning should be conducted following all the protocols. Persons who are involved in the actual program should be present
