Ganeshotsav will continue for the second year in Maharashtra, organizers upset
For the second year in a row, the Maharashtra government has decided to ban huge idols of Lord Ganesha and mega public gatherings for the upcoming 10-day Ganeshotsav festival starting September 10, even as the organizers created a ruckus.
In view of the expected Covid-19 ‘third wave’, the state government on Tuesday issued a detailed notification limiting the height of idols to 4 feet in public markets and 2 feet for domestic worship.
The government has also scheduled simple, unattractive celebrations during the 10 days without crowds and strictly following all COVID-19 protocols, marking the state’s biggest public festival in which people from all communities participate. Huh.
No procession will be allowed for ‘Visarjan’ (immersion) celebrations on various dates till the start of the festivities on September 10 or till the last farewell on September 19, which is tarnishing the much-awaited festival.
Objecting to the notification, Naresh Dahibavkar, president of the influential Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Coordination Committee (BSGSS), termed it “a harsh blow” for the second year.
In a stern statement, Dahibhavkar said, “The organizers and the idol maker are shocked and shocked. We had sent many letters to the state government, but they remained unheeded and now suddenly this one-sided and one-sided decision has come.”
He appealed to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to convene a meeting of BSGSS and others in the state and jointly finalize the norms for the 2021 Ganeshotsav.
By 2020, the government has recommended prioritizing health camps or blood donation campaigns or health awareness campaigns for coronavirus, malaria, dengue etc., with the highest level of cleanliness maintained by the organizers of all public circles and mega Ganeshotsav groups.
Based on the levels of restrictions that are in force during the festival, officials have made it clear that these will not be relaxed during Ganeshotsav and directed public ‘mandals’ to ensure that there is no overcrowding during the daily ‘aarti’. Don’t be ‘Pooja’ and ‘Darshan’.
The state government has asked public ‘mandals’ to switch to online ‘darshan’ or telecast the celebrations through local cable television networks, websites or social media platforms, as suggested by Sanjay D. As per the notification issued by Khedekar, Dy. Secretary, Home Department.
Children and senior citizens should avoid going out for immersion and, as far as possible, immersion ceremonies should be performed in artificial ponds that will be built by various public and private bodies, such as in 2020, at the first height of COVID-19 wave of
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