Bhubaneswar: Odisha Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena on Friday urged the residents of the State to celebrate the upcoming pujas and festivals with Covid restrictions.
While addressing the people of the State at 4.30 PM today, Jena said that the second wave of coronavirus is still there in the State. The daily positive cases in the State now hover between 600 and 1200. However, reports of new variant of the virus have now come to the fore in different parts of the world.
“When we look into the past, we can see that the COVID cases rose after the Kumbh Mela and Onam celebrations. Therefore, we should not congregate in temples and mandaps but follow the Covid guidelines strictly while celebrating the upcoming pujas and festivals,” he said.
“After a meeting with the members of different puja committees, local MP and MLAs of Cuttack city, the State government decided to keep the festivals in a low-key manner in view of the Covid19 pandemic. Therefore, the 4-ft cap on idol height at puja mandaps/ pandals to remain in force,” the SRC said.
The COVID restrictions regarding the celebration of pujas and festival which was issued on August 9 will continue in the state, added the SRC.
The following guidelines are issued in the interest of the health of the general public and for containment of the spread of COVID-19:
- It is hereby directed that congregation for celebration of the above festivals/puja and associated religious and cultural congregations shall not be allowed in public throughout the State.
- However, religious rituals in churches/ temples/mosques/places of worship will continue as usual with a limited number of persons with strict adherence to Covid protocols.
- The citizens are allowed to observe the said Pujas/ festivals in their premises without causing any congregation at any place and maintaining all safety protocols, such as social distancing, wearing masks, proper sanitisation, etc.
- The Puja Committees/organizers/ in rural and urban areas are allowed to conduct puja in mandaps/ pandals as per the following instructions:
- For conducting Puja in Puja Pandals/ Mandaps, the organizers shall apply to and obtain necessary permission from the District Magistrate or any other officer authorised by him/ her. For the area under Commissionerate of Police of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, such permission shall be given by the Commissioner of Police of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar or any other officer authorised by him/ her.
- Puja(s) shall be conducted in indoor-like condition only for observance of rituals without public participation, pomp and grandeur.
- Puja Pandals/ mandaps shall be covered on three sides. The 4th side shall also be covered in a way not to allow any public view of the idols. There shall be no darshan by public/ devotees.
- The size of the idol shall be less than 4 feet.
- There shall be no use of public address system.
- At any given point of time, there shall not be more than 7 persons including organisers and priests and support staff present in the puja pandal/ mandap.
- The persons present at puja pandal/ mandap shall follow all Covid protocols of social distancing, mask use, personal hygiene and sanitation issued by Central/ State Government/ Local Administration in letter and spirit.
- The organizers and other persons involved in conducting the Puja shall abide by any other condition(s) as imposed by their local Administration/ appropriate authority.
Kalinga AI