Pune: No processions allowed for immersion of Ganesh idols this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Shikha Chaurasia
Pune, August 16, 2020: With the Ganeshotsav starting from August 22, the Pune administration has decided not to allow processions for Ganesh Visarjan this year due to the Coronavirus disease (COVID19) pandemic. Though the rise in cases seems to have slowed down a little, the city remains the worst affected in the whole country.
A review meeting in Pune regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar discussed the matter with elected representatives and officials and it was decided that permission to conduct procession on Laxmi Road and other small processions around the city could not be granted.
Pune Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao said that the decision was taken according to the directives issued by the Central Government to avoid any kind of religious, social or cultural processions in highly affected areas.
“The public representatives have been asked to urge people to celebrate the festival at home as large gatherings and processions cannot be allowed this year. Ganesh mandals may opt for broadcasting online ‘aarti’ of the idols instead of allowing devotees to attend them physically”, Rao added.
