Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued guidelines for the Durga Puja which will be conducted from October 11 to October 13, 2021, that any congregation for the celebration of the festival including associated religious and cultural congregation shall not be allowed in public within BMC jurisdiction.
According to the reports, the guidelines are in accordance with the comprehensive festival guidelines issued by the Odisha government on August 9, 2021. As per the BMC notification, the Puja Committees/Organisers can conduct Durga Puja in Mandaps/Pandals by adopting all COVID-19 protocols, including social distancing, wearing masks, proper sanitisation for which they have to obtain permission from the Officer duly authorized by the Commissioner of Police.
Further, the guidelines stated that the Puja shall be conducted in indoor like conditions only for observance of rituals without any public participation, pomp and grandeur. The Mandaps / Pandals shall have to be covered on three sides and one side to be opened only for the purpose of use by the priest for rituals. The fourth side should also be covered properly so as to not allow any public view/darshan of the idols by devotees.
The Idol size shall be less than 4Ft and there shall be no immersion procession by the organizers. The idols will be immersed in artificial ponds to be created by BMC for this purpose. Public address system shall not be used during Puja or any other time during these Puja days and the Puja Committee should inform their member to keep all permission/individual COVID Vaccination certificates handy and all times for inspection by enforcement agencies.
Pic Courtesy – Google
