BMC Revises Order, Allows Chhath Puja At Artificial Ponds, But Not Beaches
Mumbai: The city’s civic body on Monday said seaside mass gatherings will not be allowed for the upcoming Chhath Puja festival in Mumbai to prevent the anticipated third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As per the revised guidelines, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will instead construct artificial ponds in different areas of the city and bear the cost of the work.
The BMC said only those citizens who have completed two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine can participate in the mass worship.
The civic body has asked the police department to ensure that there are no mass gatherings at seafronts for Chhath Puja, performed mainly by the people from Bihar to propitiate the Sun god, which will be celebrated on November 10 and 11.
The BMC said that after the festival is over, the responsibility of constructing and filling artificial ponds will be with the concerned regional officers.
Highlighting the reason for celebrating the Chhath festival in a restricted manner, the BMC said that from October 1 to November 6, a total of 1,753 COVID-19 cases were reported in Mumbai.
Since there is a possibility of a third wave of COVID-19 and hence it is necessary to celebrate the festival in a restricted manner as per the guidelines.
“Given the huge crowd that normally gathers by the seaside in Mumbai for Chhath Puja, it will be difficult to follow the norms of the pandemic, especially social distancing. So there is a need to avoid mass gatherings on the seafront and the police department must ensure that there is victory. Do not organize such gatherings,” the civic body said.
The BMC has limited the maximum number of devotees in outdoor and indoor gatherings for Chhath Puja to 200 and 100 respectively.
“Open-air gatherings will have a limit of 50 per cent of the capacity but a maximum of 200 people. Similarly, the limit for gatherings to be held in an indoor office is 50 per cent of the total capacity but a maximum of 100 people,” as per the guidelines.
The civic body also directed the regional offices to ensure that artificial ponds do not become overcrowded and COVID-19 protocols are strictly followed. It states that the help of the police can also be taken if needed.
“Only citizens who have completed two doses of COVID-19 vaccine can participate in the mass Puja locations,” the BMC said, adding that thermal screening facilities should be installed at the Puja locations, which should be properly sanitised.
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