No processions, idol height capped between 2-4 ft: Maharashtra govt issues guidelines for Ganesh Utsav

The Maharashtra government on Monday issued guidelines for the upcoming Ganpati festival and asked those organising Ganesh festivities to keep the height of public idols at four feet and the domestic ones at two feet, The state government asked the organisers to celebrate in a simple manner amid the Covid-19 outbreak. The Ganpati festival is scheduled to begin on September 10, but like last year, will be subdued due to the pandemic and the Covid curbs set in place by the government, officials in Pune added. Following guidelines have been issued by Maharashtra government 1) For public mandalas, prior permission will have to be taken from municipal corporation/local administration 2) Due to Covid-19, only limited people to be allowed at pandals 3) There should be no extravagance decoration 4) Ganpati idols should not be more than four feet for public idols and two feet for household idols 5) People should ideally instal metal or marble idols, while those made of shadu clay must be immersed at home or in artificial tanks 6) Nobody should be forced to give donation. Display of 7) Mandals have been advised to hold blood donation and social awareness camps, and avoid bhajan-kirtan and other mass programmes at the festivity site 8) The restrictions imposed to contain the outbreak will remain in force and no relaxation will be given during Ganesh Utsav 9) No crowd for aarti, bhajan and no noise pollution 10) Arrangements should be made for live telecast 11) Thermal screening and sanitisation should be done at mandals 12) No procession while bringing and visarjan of Ganpati idols.