Maharashtra govt urges to celebrate upcoming festivals with simplicity; Read here what's allowed and what's not

Owing to a massive spike in the coronavirus cases in the state, the Maharashtra government has urged the Christian community to celebrate upcoming festivals – Good Friday and Easter Sunday -- in a simple manner.

This year, celebrations of Holi and Rang Panchami, which was observed on March 28 and 29, were banned in the state.

The government has released fresh guidelines for Good Friday and Easter Sunday this year, which falls on April 2 and April 4 respectively.

Here’s the set of rules for the celebrations:

• If a church is spacious, a maximum of 50 persons should attend the prayer meet there during the holy week from March 28 to April 4.
• However, if the church is smaller in size, then a special prayer meet should be held in the presence of 10-25 persons, and four to five special masses may be organised depending on the need, it said.
• The churches must ensure that during Mass social distancing is maintained and people strictly follow COVID-appropriate behaviour.
• It said adherence to COVID-19 protocols, including wearing masks, using hand sanitisers must be ensured.
• Moreover, efforts must also be made to broadcast prayer meets online.
• Measures should be taken to disinfect the place at all times and avoid overcrowding.

Meanwhile, the state government has imposed a night curfew across the state from March 28. This was announced after a virtual review meeting, on March 26, which was attended by all divisional commissioners, collectors, Superintendents of Police and senior doctors of district hospitals. Besides, the CM Uddhav Thackeray has warned of a lockdown if people continue to flout the pandemic restrictions and the cases continue to grow.