One of the much-awaited festivals in Mumbai, Navratri, has been cancelled this year, due to the coronavirus outbreak. A few days back, the state government issued guidelines and requested the associations to celebrate the festival in a simple manner. Following the directives, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), on Friday, October 9, 2020, suggested the associations and Sarvajanik Mandals in Mumbai to offer 'online darshan' this year.
The civic body released a statement and issued guidelines regarding the same, and stated that devotees can seek blessings of the goddess online this year, keeping the increasing COVID19 cases in mind.
Announcing the strict rules, the state government also asked the associations and households to reduce the idol size to four feet and two feet, respectively, further asking them to follow social media distancing and COVID19 safety measures strictly.
The festival starts on October 17, 2020, and keeping the precautionary steps in mind, groups will have to sanitise the pandals regularly and members present there will have to maintain a distance of two feet, wear masks, and wash hands on a timely basis.
Also Read: State issues guidelines for Navratri celebrations; Garba and Dandiya events prohibited
Further, mandals have been asked to immerse the idols ar home or coordinate with the members of the civic body to ensure it is done at artificial immersion sites. Activities like Garba, Dandiya and other cultural programs are prohibited, and one may organize Aarti, Bhajan, Kirtan or other religious programs with no crowd and by avoiding noise pollution
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