Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation released a set of guidelines to be strictly followed by devotees and puja organisers during the celebration of Ganesh Puja.
According to the reports, people on the occasion of Ganesh Puja shall not be allowed in public within BMC Jurisdiction. The Puja Committees / Organizers can conduct Ganesh Puja in mandaps/pandals by adopting all COVID-19 protocols such as social distancing, wearing Masks, proper sanitization etc for which they have to obtain permission from the Officer duly authorized by the Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar.
Further the Puja shall be conducted in indoor-like conditions only for observance of rituals without any public participation, pomp, and grandeur and the public address system shall not be used during Puja or any other time. 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. This fourth side should also be covered properly so as not to allow any public view/darshan of the idols by devotees.
There shall be no immersion procession by the organizers. The idols shall be immersed in artificial ponds to be created by the BMC for this purpose. No partaking of prasad will be allowed of any kind on account of the Puja. The Head of the educational/Coaching institute shall ensure that those above 18 years of age are fully vaccinated to be present on this occasion.
