Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has banned the public from visiting Ganesh mandals during Ganesh Chaturthi. Along with this, the government has asked the Mandal organizers to provide darshan online or through other electronic means.
The BMC had issued fresh guidelines for the Ganpati festival starting Friday and banned physical darshan for devotees at public pandals. Also, there was a restriction on the number of people participating in the procession during the ceremony.
Instructions issued by BMC
- According to the guidelines issued by the BMC for the Ganesh festival starting from September 10, the entry of devotees for darshan in public pandals has been banned. Apart from this, the number of people participating in the procession during the ceremony has also been limited.
- According to the guidelines issued by the BMC, not more than 10 people will be present while bringing the idol to public pandals and taking it for immersion. Only a maximum of five people will be present while bringing the idol into the house and taking it for immersion.
- According to the new guidelines, all devotees will have to compulsorily wear masks and follow physical distance.
- In addition, processional participants during the festival must mandatorily take both doses of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine and be more than 15 days after the second dose.
- In view of the rise in new cases of corona infection and the threat of a third wave of the pandemic, the BMC has banned the entry of devotees for darshan in public Ganpati pandals and also appealed to the citizens to celebrate the festival with simplicity.
- The BMC said, “In view of the possible threat of a third wave of the Covid-19 epidemic, devotees have been prohibited from having darshan in public pandals. It has been decided that Ganeshotsav Mandal should facilitate the devotees to have darshan through cable network, website, Facebook or (other) social media.
- Mandals falling in the Covid-19 Containment Zone will have to make arrangements for immersion of Lord Ganapati idols in the pandal premises itself or postpone it. Similarly, in sealed buildings, devotees will have to make arrangements for immersion of the idol at home.
- The BMC has limited the height of the Ganpati idols to be installed at home to two feet, while those for public halls are limited to four feet.
- Strict action will be taken against those violating the guidelines of BMC under the provisions of Indian Penal Code, Epidemic Diseases Act and Disaster Management Act.
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