Pune: Ganeshotsav To Be celebrated In A Simple Way; Maharashtra Govt Issues Guidelines for Celebration And Immersion

Mrunal Jadhav

Mumbai, 29th June 2021: The Ganesh festival (Ganeshotsav) will be celebrated in a simple way this year too due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Maharashtrians were eagerly waiting for the State government’s decision on the celebration of the biggest festival in the State. Finally, the Maharashtra government has issued guidelines for this year’s Ganesh festival celebrations. According to the rules announced by the State government, the height limit for Ganesha idols for pubic viewing is four feet and for idols at home, it is two feet.

Guidelines for celebrating Ganeshotsav:

1. It will be mandatory for mandals to get permission from the municipal corporation or local administration.

2. Pavilions should be erected in a limited manner in accordance with the policy decided by the municipal corporation or the local administration. As the festival is expected to be celebrated in a simple way, flashy decorations should be avoided.

3. The height of the Ganesh idols for public viewing by the mandals should not be more than four feet and the height of the Ganesh idol to be placed in the houses should not be more than two feet.

4. The government has asked people to worship a metal or marble Ganesh idol if possible and immerse the clay idol at home. If that is not possible, then the idol should be immersed at a nearby artificial immersion site.

5. Mandals should accept donations if paid by will and not do any kind of advertisement that would cause traffic. Advertisements related to health and social messages should be given priority.

6. Priority should be given to health-related activities or camps instead of cultural programmes. There should be hygiene awareness.

7. Restrictions imposed by the State government due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will remain in force during the Ganesh festival and will not be relaxed.

8. While organizing Aarti, Bhajan, Kirtan or other religious programmes, care should be taken that there is no crowd. Noise pollution regulations should be followed.

9. To avoid crowds at a single place, Ganesha idol viewing (darshan) should be made available online through cable networking, website, Facebook, other social networking sites, etc.

10. Adequate arrangements should be made for disinfection and thermal screening at the Ganesh mandals.

11. There should be no arrival and immersion processions. Aarti that is usually performed at the place of immersion should be done at home. Children and senior citizens should avoid visiting the immersion site. The immersion procession of several Ganesh idols in a chawl, society and the building should not be taken out together.

12. With the help of the civic body, various boards, housing societies, people’s representatives, and NGOs, artificial ponds should be constructed for the immersion of Ganesh idols.

13) To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the rules laid down by the State government, Health Department, district administration, and local police administration should be followed.