Durga Puja will be celebrated but with a low profile to combat COVID-19
Like every other years, Durga Puja Festival will be celebrated in the State of Meghalaya with all rituals but unlike other years the celebration will comparatively be of a low profile in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the SOP issued by Chief Secretary Government of Meghalaya, MS Rao said that “Person above 65 years of age, persons with comorbidities, pregnant woman and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home. People are encouraged not to venture out of their localities/areas. The Puja Committees may cause wide awareness on restricting inter-locality movement,”
Here is the details SOP for Puja Celebrations in Meghalaya:
Scope
This protocol outlines various generic precautionary measures to be adopted during Puja Celebrations to prevent spread of COVID-19 and has been prepared after due consultation with the Central Puja Committee (CPC).
Generic preventive measures
Person above 65 years of age, persons with comorbidities, pregnant woman and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home. Puja Committees are to advise accordingly. The generic preventive measures include simple public health measures that are to be followed to reduce the risk of COVID-19. These measures need to be observed by all (workers and visitors) in these places at all times.
These include:
Individuals must maintain a minimum distance of 5 feet in public places as far as feasible.
Use of face masks to be mandatory.
Practice frequent hand washing with soap (for at least 40-60 seconds) even when hands are not visibly dirty or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (for at least 20 seconds), whichever feasible.
Respiratory etiquettes to be strictly followed. This involves strict practice of covering one’s mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue/handkerchief/flexed elbow and disposing off used tissues properly.
Self-monitoring of health by all and reporting any illness at the earliest to State or district helpline.
Spitting should be strictly prohibited.
Installation & use of Aarogya Setu App may be advised to all.
Pandals
The Puja Committees will inform the Deputy Commissioner or the SDO (Civil) on the puja pandal to be erected. The following protocols pertaining to erection of Puja Pandals shall be followed:
Pandal may be allowed to be erected as per requirement of the concerned Puja Committee. However, no pandal will be erected on PWD roads. The committees will see that Pandals are to be constructed keeping in mind the expected number of visitors.
Pandals are to be kept open to the extent possible to encourage cross-ventilation. Mandirs where permanent structures are available may remain as they are.
Barricades are to be constructed to regulate entry and exit into the pandals. No welcome gate will be erected on PWD roads. CCTV will have to be installed in and around pandal areas/vicinities.
As part of the safety measures for the purpose of the celebration, it is mandatory to keep first aid and fire preventive equipment, including fire extinguishers and sand buckets in all Puja pandals.
Adequate lighting facilities in the approach roads to the pandals are required to be installed by the Puja Committee concerned.
Entrance to have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitizer dispenser) or hand washing and optional thermal screening provisions.
Regulation of Movement of Visitors/ Devotees
All Puja Committees to prepare micro-plan to ensure that there are no large gatherings of devotees in the pandals keeping in mind the following conditions:
Separate entry and exit points for devotees and Puja visitors. Movement of devotees to be staggered and the number of visitors at any point shall not excced one-third capacity of the pandal at any one time. Sufficient volunteers will be deputed along the entry and at key locations to ensure the staggering of visitors.
Volunteers should be appropriately stationed to ensure physical distancing and wearing of masks.
Adequate supplies of sanitizers and physical distancing floor markings to be ensured.
As far as practicable, thermal screening at the entrance of the puja pandal should be undertaken. All persons should strictly wear masks at all times. Further the names and mobile numbers of all persons visiting the pandal should be kept by the Puja Committee, to be used for contact tracing, if and when required.
Pre identification of space in each pandal for isolation of suspect cases. Vehicle arrangements and drivers to be in place to transport any sick/symptomatic individuals.
People are encouraged not to venture out of their localities/areas. The Puja Committees may cause wide awareness on restricting inter-locality movement. An appeal to be given to devotees by all Puja Committees so that the members remain in their respective localities/areas. Intensive awareness has to be given by the Puja Committees so that people do not visit more than 1-2 pandals.
Positive and High Risk Contacts are not allowed to visit puja pandals or venture out during this time. Legal action will be taken against violators as per the relevant laws.
DM&HO may depute Medical Officers to assist Magistrates and Police as Sector Health Officers in each sector. They may attend the sectoral and sub-committee meetings.
Idols
The Puja Committees have decided to perform only the rituals of the Puja as per Hindu Almanac schedule:
All idols should be in one frame and maximum height should not exceed 5 feet. Devotees will not be allowed to touch the idols.
Puja and offering of Anjali will be regulated by the organisers.
Offerings will be in phases. No sitting down and partaking of prasad. Only packed dry prasad may be distributed among devotees and visitors.
There will be no lunch or serving of cooked food. Packed food distribution may be allowed.
Immersion of Idols
The Puja Committees shall in consultation with the Deputy Commissioner or SDO (Civil) concerned decide on the schedule and number of Puja Committees allowed for immersion of Idols at the Immersion Ghat.
No foot procession will be allowed throughout the route of Immersion of ldols.
For Puja Committee with ldols, a maximum of 15 members will be allowed with two light vehicles and 1 (one) heavy/medium vehicle (preferably pickup van) to accompany the idol to the Immersion Ghat.
For Puja Committe without Idols, only 9 members along with two light vehicles may be allowed.
Respcetive Puja Committees will select by name the members who will be in the vehicles and identity cards may be issued to them. All persons involved in lifting of idols, are to be briefed on COVID-19 protocols. Since minimum person-to-person contact has to maintained, the committees will ensure that carrying and transportation of idols including immersion are to be minutely planned.
The movement chart shall be prepared in consultation with the Superintendent of Police or SDPO concerned and permission for use of vehicles on the immersion day is to be obtained Superintendent of Police or SDPO.
All committees are to strictly adhere to the movement schedule so there is no congestion at any point in and around the immersion site. Sector Magistrates to ensure that they move out within the stipulated time. There will be close coordination between magistrates. Police and committees stationed at the site, on the road and at the respective boarding points.
The immersion should be completed by 3:00 P.M. Instructions to be issued to all puja pandals to ensure prior arrangements and avoid unnecessary delay in movement from the respective pandals to the Immersion Ghat. All Puja Committees to ensure that all sub-committee strictly adhere to the timing allotted for immersion of idols. Only 5 persons will be allowed to enter into the Immersion Ghat for Puja/immersion rituals.
On lookers/by standers should not be allowed during immersion. Barricades should be erected to prevent bystanders and onlookers from entering the site by the CPC.
Immersion of idols is strictly prohibited in water bodies other than the designated Immersion Ghats where arrangements for environment-friendly protocols for immersion shall have to be stringently followed including minimum possible retention in the water.
Guidelines issued by CPCB/MSPCB for immersion of idols as per environmental norms should be strictly followed. Immersion will be followed by immediate removal and puja wastes like flowers, leaves ete, should not be thrown into the river water.
Maintenance of Cleanliness
The Puja Committees should ensure to maintain cleanliness in all Puja Pandals at all time during and immediately after the celebration.
The Puja Committees should ensure proper segregation of waste at source in the Puja Pandals. Help desk with volunteers in cach pandal for disposal of waste may be arranged.
The Puja Commitees should follow the guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board and Meghalaya Pollution Control Board, pertaining to Environmental Pollution.
The Immersion Ghat should be cleaned up 1 (one) day after the celebration by the CPC in collaboration with the Shillong Municipal Board.
General Guidelines
Since night curfew is effective from 10:00 pm, all Puja activities should conclude before 9:00 PM.
No live sports, games and cultural functions will be allowed to be organized during the Puja day celebrations.
Pandals will be kept simple with minimum embellishments and lighting.
The Puja Committees will submit the list of dhakies/ drummers being brought from outside the State along with the details of quarantine arrangements made to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office for necessary permissions. Such persons shall follow the testing and quarantine protocols of the State.
Micro-planning at the sectoral and sub-committee level will have to be mandatorily taken up along with Sector magistrate, police and health officials to ensure there is seamless coordination and all issues are addressed.
As far as practicable, live streaming of prayers and other rituals can be adopted by Puja Committees to cater to elder people, children and persons with co-morbidities who cannot visit the Puja Pandals.
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