For the second year in a row, the city will be celebrating Ganeshotsav in the shadow of COVID-19 pandemic. While abiding by the guidelines, people are all geared up to celebrate the 10-day festival starting from Friday. However, this year, the devotees will not be allowed to take ‘darshan’ of Lord Ganesh idols installed by various organisations. For, the district administration has allowed darshan of idols only through on-line mode. In 2020, Ganeshotsav was relatively a low-key affair in city owing to surge in COVID-19 cases.

 

This year, the situation is comparatively better but based on the inputs from the experts, ahead of Ganeshotsav, the Government and the administrative authorities have sounded caution for the likely third wave of COVID-19 infections. Accordingly, the State Government has issued protocols vide which the height of the idols to be installed by Ganesh Mandals has been restricted to only 4 feet. Maximum height of 2 feet has been specified for idols to be installed at households also. No processions are allowed while bringing idol to pandal/home, or at the time of ‘visarjan’. At the time of ‘visarjan’, even in case of idols installed at households, aarti and pooja of the idols should be performed at home and then the idols should be carried to the immersion point. Importantly, in the city, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has completely prohibited immersion of idols in lakes.

 

The civic body has made arrangements for artificial tanks for immersion of idols, so as to curb pollution of the water bodies in the city. Besides, NMC has imposed ban on Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols and has started enforcing it by way of seizing PoP idols. R Vimala, District Collector, issued directions on Thursday in accordance with the State’s guidelines, stating that people would not be allowed to visit the pandals in person for ‘darshan’ of the idols installed by Ganesh Mandals. ‘Darshan’ of idols has been allowed only through on-line/electronic mode.

 

Despite the restrictions, Nagpurians are all enthusiastic about celebration of the festival, while abiding by the guidelines. On Thursday, unlike the usual scene every normal year, only a few persons were seen carrying the idol of their beloved ‘Ganpati Bappa’ to pandal or household. The usual large processions were missing. Still, markets were abuzz with activities especially in the past few days. All were praying to the ‘Vighnaharta’ to help the humanity get rid of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.