With Just under fortnight remaining for celebration of the Ganesh festival, the State government on Sunday announced the SOP for ganesh as well as Janmashtami wherein the Sarvajanik festival ahs been banned in containment zones.
Besides this the State has also cancelled the Dahi Handi during the Janmashtami festival, says the order issued by Secretary revenue Sanjay Kumar.
The SOP also prohibits Entertainment programmes and Dekhava during Ganesh besides Sarvajanik Ganesh Committees must make efforts to live stream religious proceedings on social media so that the devotees.
Also, attendance at Arti for Sarvajanik Ganesh shall be limited to 10 persons only.
Following are the guidelines.
Guidelines for Celebration of Janmashtami 2020
In view of spread of Covid-19 disease, the following guidelines are issued for Celebration of Janmashtami:
- There shall be no Dahi Handi celebration throughout the district.
- There shall be no social /religious gatherings in the district
- The protocol of social distancing, wearing of face covers and use of hand wash and sanitizer shall be followed by all throughout the celebrations.
- There shall be monitoring of markets selling items for the festival by the local bodies concerned and Police to ensure that social distancing norms are maintained. Sale timings should be longer and staggered to prevent crowding
- For Janmashtami celebrations, as far as possible home visits to friends and neighbours may be avoided and instead greetings on social media or telephones may be adopted.
- The persons in Home quarantine or in Home Isolation shall neither he anyone in their houses nor visit any other person outside their houses.
- The people in the sealed/containment zone shall not associate with the neighbours or any outsiders during the Janmashtami celebration
- The requirements of the people in the containment zone/scaled area shall be communicated to the Panch member/councilor concerned who shall get the requirements arranged to be dropped in the door step of the houses on payment basis.
Guidelines for Celebration of Ganesh Chathurthi Festival 2020
- The persons who cross the Goa border for bringing the Ganesh to Goa for either self use or for sale and return on same day within 24 hours of departure from Goa) shall not be required to undergo quarantine/ tests, provided they make entry to that effect with personnel on duty at Border Check Posts
- The natives of Goan origin residing in different parts of Country shall be allowed to enter in the State of Goa subject to following the present SOP of COovid negative certificate of ICMR authorized lab/test and quarantine till test results/ 14 days home quarantine.
- Persons going out of Goa for celebration outside the state do not need “Exit Permit” from Goa. However, on return to Goa the existing protocol is to be followed.
- There shall be monitoring of markets selling items for the festival by the local bodies concerned and Police to ensure that social distancing norms are maintained. Sale timings should be longer and staggered to prevent crowding.
- There shall be no crowding at Chitrashala. All Chitrashala should make efforts to home deliver the idols wherever possible. Children and senior citizens should be discouraged from coming to Chitrasallas. If feasible Chitrashala may commence sale from 20″ August onwards.
- Shops in the Markets and Chitrashallas must make available hand sanitisers to all visitors.
- Sarvajanik (Community Ganesh Utsav) will be permitted by the local bodies concerned on a case to case basis subject to conditions.
- Entertainment programmes and Dekhava are prohibited.
- Sarvajanik Ganesh Committees must make efforts to live stream religious proceedings on social media so that the devotees can avail of Darshan from their homes thereby avoiding overcrowding and yet ensuring community participation
- Height of the idol of Sarvajanik (Community Ganesh Utsav) shall be restricted to 4 fl so that maximum of 6 people are required for installation and immersion
- There shall be No Tirthprasad or Mahaprasad for Sarvajanik Ganesh.
- Attendance at Arti for Sarvajanik Ganesh shall be limited to 10 persons only.
- For individual Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, as far as possible home visits to friends and neighbours may be avoided and instead greetings on social media or telephones may he adopted.
- The persons in Home quarantine or in Home Isolation shall neither host anyone in their houses nor visit any other person outside their houses.
- The local bodies shall prepare a ward-wise time table for immersion of Ganesh idol on hourly basis. This shall be communicated to all the residents of the ward. It shall be ensured that the time schedule is followed properly and monitored by the respective local bodies under supervision of Police to see that social distancing norms and wearing of masks are followed
- The timing for immersion of idol will be staggered from 5.00 p.m. to 10.00 pm
- Gathering and performance of artists etc will not be permitted in the temple premises or at the immersion sites or at Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav.
- Face cover and use of hand wash/hand sanitiser along with social distancing shall be compulsory for all throughout the celebration of Ganesh Utsav.
- Vehicles carrying the Ganesh idols shall he accompanied by not more than 5 persons.
Containment/Sealed Zones
- People residing in Containment Zone shall be allowed to celebrate only individual Ganesh Chaturthi. No Sarvajanik Chaturthi will be allowed in containment/sealed zones.
- The requirements of the people in the containment zone/scaled area shall be communicated to the Panch member/councilor concerned who shall get the requirements arranged to be dropped in the door step of the houses on payment basis.
- The people in the sealed/containment zone shall not associate with the neighbours or any outsiders during the entire celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi. There shall be strict enforcement of social distancing norms.
- At the time of immersion only two person from the family residing in the Containment Zone/sealed area shall be allowed to carry the idol for immersion at the nearest spot available during the designated time. After immersion, the persons shall straight away return to the sealed area without associating with any other person. District administration will designate vehicles for each sealed area/containment zone to be taken for immersion of idol
General instructions
- Use of crackers, fire works etc. in violation of norms set up by the Pollution Control Board or any other authority in respect of sound and air pollution shall be prohibited
- Idols made of Plaster of Paris are banned from being sold / imported from the neighboring states or made in the state for self use or for sale.
- The priests performing Ganesh Pooja shall follow social distancing, wear face cover, use hand sanitiser and adhere to other health protocol 27.Priests in containment zones/sealed areas shall be prohibited from performing Ganesh pooja by going to individual households
