Key Points:
- Guidelines for Navratri in Maharashtra are out.
- The nine day festival starts from October 17 this year.
- Garba, Dandiya and Durga Pooja processions are BANNED.
- Ravan Dahan is prohibited in order to avoid crowding.
- 4 feet idol for Pandals and 2 feet idol for Domestic festivity of Goddess Durga.
2020 will see no uni-color dressed crowd for 9 days as Garba and Dandiya events during Navratri this year, are prohibited as part of the state government’s efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19. Tuesday was the day when guidelines for the festival were issued by the State Home Government.
Guidelines:
- Community Events Banned.
- The Processions for the First and Last Day of the 9 day festival is forbidden.
- The height of the idol of Goddess Durga must be upto 4 feet in pandals.
- Maximum 2 feet idols in domestic celebrations.
- Gathering of more than five people in pandals and serving food or beverages are also prohibited.
- Organizers are suggested to use the digital medium for rituals like darshan, to avoid crowding in pandals.
- Instead of idols made of plaster of Paris (PoP), organizers should opt for either clay or permanent idols.
- Immersions must be done in Artificial Ponds constructed by the local bodies near the pandals to avoid processions.
- Public Place immersions won’t be allowed.
- Local Police have been directed by the state to issue orders on immersion day to avoid crowding.
- Ravan Dahan is prohibited.
Organizer at Kora Kendra, Borivali, Ganesh Naidu said,
“We are not against restrictions, but we should be allowed to organize orchestra at the pandal and telecast it so that people can play dandiya sitting at their home. In the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown, people are fed up sitting at homes for the past six months and need some sort of entertainment and religious celebration.”
Naidu said, Rs. 25 Lakh through ticket sales alone was normal earlier. The nine day festival starts from October 17 this year. The evenings of the Dream City’s open grounds, roads and even alleys used to see crowds all dolled up, dancing to the rhythm of famous Gujarati songs. Dandiya and Garba are particularly popular among the Gujarati community during Navratri. According to Garba and dandiya organizers, the preparation for Navratri usually begins six months ahead of the festival — grounds are booked, artists finalized, sponsors sought and promotions kicked off.
Ravan Dahan, that marks the end of the festival will not be allowed as overcrowding of people will increase the risk of Covid-19.
“These are the guidelines along the lines of those issued for Ganeshotsav and Bakri Eid. The responsibility of enforcing the restrictions will be on local authorities, including municipal corporations, police and collectors,”
said an official from the home department.
