Maharashtra govt issues guidelines mandating low-key festivities for upcoming Navratri festival

Mumbai: Maharashtra Government has issued guidelines mandating low-key festivities yet again this year for the upcoming Navratri festival, owing to COVID-19 concerns. According to the fresh guidelines issued yesterday, it has also been noted that the height of the idol has been capped at four feet in case of public pandals and two feet in case of home idols.

 

No Garba would be allowed and decorations at the pandals also should be very minimal. It has appealed to the Mandals and organisers of Navratri festivals in the city to organise health and blood donation camps. 

The government



also appealed to the Mandals to create public awareness regarding vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue instead and follow all COVID-19 safety protocols during the nine-day long festival beginning from Thursday and ending on 15th of this month.

 

It said, Darshan of idols should be done online as much as possible or organisers must ensure that not more than five people be allowed inside in the pandal at a time. The government also said, during the welcome and the farewell ceremonies of the goddess in pandals and residential premises, the crowd should be in control.