The auspicious calendar event, that brings Bengalis out of their homes across the world is here. The celebration of the victory of Maa Durga over all evil is the Magna Carta for the Hindu Bengali culture. This event is known as the Durga Puja and lasts for a period of 10 days. It starts with the Mohalaya and ends with the Bijoya Doshomi.
But COVID 19 has become a dark cloud over the festivities as the festival that brings Bengalis closer can also put a lot of lives in danger. Although the Government has done a tremendous job at vaccinating people, it is also important that the safety of the people be taken care of. In light of that, the festivities have to be managed in the safest way possible.
Durga Puja in Silchar and other places has great cultural significance. It is not only a religious event but also an economic event for thousands of businesses in the area. Therefore, the Assam Government has deemed it fit to ensure that the festivities continue, however, in as safe a manner as possible.
As part of the COVID Guidelines for Silchar Durga Puja 2021, it has issued a list of SOP for Durga Puja 2021 which can be accessed by clicking here.
We have, however, put forth the salient points of the SOP in this article. The article also provides answers to the most commonly asked questions regarding the COVID Guidelines for Silchar Durga Puja. Don’t forget to check this out at the end of the piece. The list of SOPs for Gauhati Durga Puja will also be the same as presented here.
The salient features of the declaration are as follows:
1. Committee will have to take DC’s permission before organizing the puja
2. All puja committee members have to submit their COVID19 vaccination certificate (for at least one vaccine dose) to DC while taking permission to organize the puja.
3. Puja mandap must be open on all sides and spacious to maintain social distances, till the Silchar Durga Puja closing time. All mandaps have separate entry and exit gates.
4. Puja committee should provide sanitizers at the pandal entry gates and masks and only should be given to the people who are wearing masks.
5. Puja Pandals can be open until ADMA applicable time only (Currently no restrictions).
5. No Mela and Bazar will be allowed.
6. On the day of Panchami to Silchar Durga Puja Dashami, all the pujaris and people associated with the puja will be tested for Covid-19, further, they will be tested again after the Dashami.
Additional pertinent information has been provided in the FAQ section below. Please feel free to check those out as well.
We here at Readers Time, understand the significance and the cultural relevance of the Durga Puja. Therefore, we wish that everyone is able to celebrate it to its fullest. But we also hope that our readers would ensure that they do so in a safe and socially distanced manner so that people who could not be vaccinated also remain safe.
From all of us here at The Readers Time, wish you a happy and safe Mohalaya and Durga Puja.
FAQs
Q: What is the prior permission from the administration for organizing the puja in Silchar 2021?
A: The following points have been mentioned regarding the permission for Durga Puja 2021:
- All the Durga puja organisers will have to take prior permission from the District Administration
- Following that the District Administration will conduct a briefing for all the pooja committees/organisers before giving the permission to ensure compliance with COVID guidelines.
Q: What is the closing time of the Durga puja pandal in Silchar 2021?
A: All pandals will have to adhere to guidelines according to the list of SOP for Durga Puja 2021. Currently, there are no time restrictions on Pandal closing, however, according to the ASDMA Order No. ASDMA.28/2021/247 (dated 1st October, 2021), a time restriction of up to 9 PM w.e.f. 2nd October, 2021 has been implemented.
Q: What is the Durga puja Dashami guideline in Silchar 2021?
A:
- The COVID Guidelines for Silchar Durga Puja 2021 mandate that the Dashami has to be a “low-key” affair.
- Sanitising and use of masks will be compulsory. Immersion (Bisorjon) will be planned by the district administration in a staggered manner. They will allot specific times and routes for the organisers.
- No procession will be allowed and one Protima can be immersed by a maximum number of people as noted by the ASDMA guidelines (three persons).
- Extra days can be allotted for immersion (Bisorjon) is needed.
Q: What is the guideline for puja pandal in Silchar 2021?
- Pooja Pandals need to have separate entry and exit.
- Pooja Pandals will have to maintain sanitizer at both entry and exit
- The organisers need to ensure that all the visitors are wearing masks. If someone has not brought a mask, the organisers need to provide the visitor with masks.
- The interior space should not hold more than 40 people in the pandal.
- No cultural events can be organised.
- The Puja Committees need to ensure volunteers are present to enforce social distancing even outside of the pandal as well as perform mandatory thermal checks.
- “Entry with at least one dose of vaccination only” signs will be mandatory on all entry points of the pandal. Local miking informing the same should also be arranged.
Q: What is the SOP on the cultural programs during and post puja celebrations?
A: According to the COVID Guidelines for Silchar Durga Puja 2021, no cultural programs will be allowed during the Durga Puja in the pandals.
Q: What is the guideline of puja idols in Silchar 2021?
A: According to the COVID SOP for Silchar Durga Puja 2021, modular idols would be preferred and could have a height of 10 feet total. In case of single structure idols the maximum idol has to be a maximum of 6 feet. The size of the idols would be such that it can be immersed by not more than three persons.
