Mumbai: BMC Issues New SOP’s For Ganesh Chaturthi, Bans Physical Darshan

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced fresh Covid-19 restrictions ahead of the Ganeshotsav celebrations in Mumbai. The new SOPs are due to the rising cases of COVID-19 and the threat of the Third Covid Wave looming large.

“Considering the potential danger of a third COVID-19 wave, devotees are strictly forbidden from taking darshan. It has been decided that Ganeshotsav mandals should provide darshan facility to devotees through cable network, website, Facebook or (other) social media,” the civic body said.

The BMC and the Maharashtra government has appealed to the public to celebrate the festival in a simple manner. “It is necessary to celebrate Ganeshotsav only by protecting oneself and one’s family from this scourge. For this, the following restrictions should be observed during this year’s (2021) Ganeshotsav, an appeal is being made by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for the safety of devotees, according to the statement a notice issued by the Greater Mumbai Municipal Corporation.

The BMC has banned physical darshan at mandals and all gatherings. The processions also have been curtailed for bringing the Ganpati idol or immersing it.

Here are the SOP’s issued by the BMC for the Ganpati festival:

Domestic Idol Procession:

• A group of maximum five persons is allowed.
• They should be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
• Should have taken the second dose before 15 days.
• No procession for the arrival of Ganesha idols.

Public Idol Procession:

• Only 10 people at the time of arrival of public Ganesha idols.
• Required to wear masks and observe the social distance.
• They should be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
• Should have taken the second dose before 15 days.
• No procession for the arrival of Ganesha idols.

Height Of Idols:

The civic body has already restricted the height of household Ganpati idols to two feet and for the public mandals to four feet.

Online Darshan:

Ganeshotsav Mandals should provide darshan facilities to the devotees via online, cable network, website, Facebook, social media etc.

Organic Nirmalya:

Public Ganeshotsav Mandals should use garlands/flowers etc, but sparingly.

Idol Immersion:

• The idol for the domestic Ganeshotsav should preferably be made of shadu.
• The idol should be immersed in a bucket or drum at home.
• Public Ganeshotsav Mandals should immerse idols at the nearest artificial immersion site.

Domestic Immersion procession:

• At the time of immersion of domestic idol, there should be a maximum of five persons for immersion.
• These people should be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
• They should have taken the second dose before 15 days.

Public Idol Immersion:

• No more than 10 people at the time of immersion of public Ganesha idols.
• Those in attendance should wear masks and observe social distance.
• They should be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
• They should have taken the second dose before 15 days.
• No procession of any kind should take place.

Pooja at Mandal/Home Before Immersion:

It is mandatory to perform proper pooja and aarti of the idol at home or in the mandal.

Containment Zones:

Guidelines for Containment Zones are as follows:

• The immersion of the idol of the public Ganeshotsav Mandal should be done in the mandapa
• In a sealed building the idol should be immersed at home.

The rules laid down by BMC/Police Administration should be strictly followed. No action should be taken during the festival to spread the coronavirus. Those found guilty will be liable to strict action. It will be under the Infectious Diseases Act, 1897, National Disaster Prevention Act, 2005 and Bhadavi Act, 1860.

On Tuesday, Mumbai reported 353 new COVID-19 cases and two fresh fatalities, which took the infection tally to 7,47,078 and the death toll to 16,000, as per official data. The number of sealed buildings increased to 49 from 44.

The civic body seals buildings or declares containment zones if at least five persons there test positive for the coronavirus infection.

Also Read: Third wave of COVID is already upon Mumbai: Mayor Kishori Pednekar