Team Herald
PANJIM: With two Hindu festivals spanning the two weeks, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has barred hosting of Dahi Handi celebration on Janmashatmi in view of COVID-19 pandemic. For Ganesh Chaturthi on August 22, guidelines have been issued advising Sarvajanik Ganesh Committees to hold live streaming of religious proceedings to avoid crowding at the venues. The guidelines also restrict attendance for Sarvajanik Ganesh to not more than 10 persons.
The SOP issued by Secretary Revenue Sanjay Kumar states that the guidelines will be in force till the end of festival season.
For Janmashatmi, the guidelines besides banning Dahi Handi celebration also prevent social/religious gathering; advise wearing of face masks, maintaining social distancing and use of hand wash/hand sanitizer throughout the celebration; monitoring of markets selling items for festival for following of health standards. Among the long list of guidelines also directs that persons in home isolation or home quarantine should not host anyone inside their houses nor step out to visit anyone’s place.
For Ganesh Chaturthi, Goans entering the State should follow the SOP such as carrying COVID-19 negative certificate and quarantine till test results/14 days home quarantine, monitoring of markets selling for festivals for safety standards, no crowding at chitrashala and as far as possible senior citizens and children should avoid visiting these places, availability of hand sanitizers across places for the festival, etc.
The Sarvajanik (community Ganesh Utsav) committees have also been directed to follow SOP such as live streaming of religious proceedings, entertainment programmes. Dekhavas are banned. Not more than 10 persons should attend the arti, no Tirthprasad or Mahaprasad, timing of immersion of idols be staggered between 5 pm and 10pm, vehicles carrying Ganesh idols should not have more than 5 persons, no use of fire crackers, etc.
The guidelines also comprise of restrictions in containment/sealed zones.
