Raipur administration issues guidelines for Ganesh festival

Raipur district ministration on Wednesday issued guidelines for Ganesh festival next month, restricting size of idols and pandals among or things in view of coronavirus pandemic.

If a person is found to have contracted infection after visiting a Ganesh pandal, n respective organisers will have to bear cost of his or her treatment, guidelines said.

" number of COVID-19 cases has been steily rising in Raipur district...so se guidelines have been issued for a 10-day long festival starting from August 22," an official said.

guidelines, issued by ditional Collector Vineet Nandanwar, said size of idol should t exceed 4x4 feet while pandal should t be bigger than 15x15 feet.

"re should be an open area of about 5,000 sq feet in front of pandal where sitting arrangement should be me for people," it said.

Maximum 20 persons will be allowed within a pandal and its premises at a time with strict compliance of social distancing. body would be allowed to enter without a mask.

committees or individuals who install idol will have to maintain a record of visitors and four CCTV cameras should also be placed in pandals, it said "If anyone contracts infection after visiting a pandal, his/her treatment cost will be borne by concerned organizer," directive said.

Installation of idols will t be allowed in containment zones. If an area is declared as a containment zone midway through festival, n celebration in pandals in area will have to be stopped immediately.

mass feast or cultural programmes will be allowed during festival or immersion. sound system or musical instrument will be allowed to be played during installation or immersion of idols.

Pras distribution will be completely banned.

"Only one vehicle will be allowed during immersion while taking out of processions of idols will t be permitted. Only four persons will be allowed during immersion from a particular pandal," guidelines said.

ministration in Durg district of Chhattisgarh has also issued same guidelines for festival. 

Im Credits: PTI