Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has issued guidelines for celebrating Ganeshotsav amid coronavirus pandemic. Violators will not be spared, warned Dr Vijay Rathod while issuing the guidelines. Legal action will be taken against the mandals if rules are violated.
During Ganeshotsav, people generally crowded the public places, and the risk of the corona is likely to increase. Therefore, the administration has instructed to keep the height of domestic Ganesh idol at two feet and mandals’ Ganesh idol at four feet. Apart from this, there should be fewer devotees during the arrival and immersion of Ganesh idols. It means procession for arrival as well as for immersion will not be allowed. MBMC has suggested that devotees should immerse idols in artificial ponds at home or large housing complexes should make arrangements inside the premises.
What are the Guidelines for Ganeshotsav?
About idol
If the Mitra Mandals are celebrating the Ganeshotsav, then this year they should display the idol for fewer days.
Echoing the state government guidelines, here also the height of Ganesh idol should be maximum of four feet for Mandal and two feet for the domestic idol.
Idol should be eco-friendly.
The height of the mandaps should not be too high.
Inside outside the mandaps
Strictly no-no to flowers, coconuts or other prasad.
No shops selling these items near the mandaps.
No advertisement banners inside or outside the tents.
Instead of cultural activities, mandals can organised awareness cum medical campaign, blood donation camps or COVID antigen testing near the mandaps.
It is mandatory to sanitise the mandap thrice a day.
Before entering the tent, the devotees should be examined through a thermal scanner like thermal guns and oximeter.
Mandals should maintain the written records of the visitors. Temperature and oximeter reading should be written against their name and contact number.
Not more than five members of the mandals should be inside the tent at a time. Also, mask and social distancing are mandatory for everyone.
About the immersion day
Beaches or Chowpatty will be close for immersion.
Large housing complexes should make arrangement of Artificial ponds inside the premises.
Divisional offices of the MBMC will also collect the idol from society. Later, MBMC employees will immerse it.
‘Aarti’ should be performed at home as Visarjan ‘aarti’ will not be allowed at the immersion places.
If society or visarjan place will be in the containment zone on the day then the immersion should be done inside the house.
