HAILAKANDI, Oct 16 - The Hailakandi Purahit Mandali, a body of priests of the district, has decided not to take part in Durga Puja, protesting against the district administration�s directive making it mandatory for them to undergo COVID-19 tests before and after the puja. The district administration has issued a set of guidelines for a subdued Durga Puja celebration with a view to minimising infection by the novel coronavirus, including mandatory COVID-19 tests for all members of the puja committees and priests.
Strongly reacting to the directive, the Mandali decided to stay away from the puja if the order is not withdrawn. They have also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner on Friday in this regard. The vice president of the Mandali, Ranjit Choudhury said that they are firm on their decision not to undergo test before the puja. The district administration has asked them to undergo COVID tests on Panchami and after Dashami.
Hailakandi Deputy Commissioner Megh Nidhi Dahal said that the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Durga Puja will have to be followed by all in letter and spirit.
Presiding over a meeting with the puja organisers at his office here on Thursday, Dahal urged them to adhere to the SOPs.
Dahal said that in view of the pandemic, the SOPs will have to be followed religiously to prevent spread of the disease during Durga Puja.
The Deputy Commissioner urged the puja committees to ensure social distancing, personal hygiene and wearing of face masks to keep COVID-19 at bay.
Officials of the administration present at the meeting said the puja committees have been asked to keep the puja mandaps open on all sides with separate entry and exit points. They were also asked to see that not more than 50 people gather at a puja venue at a time.
The puja committees were also told to apply for permission and to arrange for deployment of volunteers for regulating the devotees, and to ensure that the COVID protocols are strictly adhered to.
Superintendent of Police Pabindra Kumar Nath asked the puja committees to submit the list of volunteers before October 21.
The administration made it clear that no roadside construction of puja pandals and distribution of prasad will be allowed at the puja venues. Only home delivery of packed dry prasad by volunteers would be allowed.
All puja mandaps will have to be closed by 10 pm and eateries by 9 pm.
The administration said that processions have been prohibited and not more than 10 persons would be allowed at the time of immersion and, if required, the immersion would be staggered to avoid rush. Immersion will begin at 11 am and sanitisation of the immersion ghats would be carried out.
The administration also asked the puja committees to install CCTVs and fire extinguishers at the mandaps, besides deployment of at least two persons for guarding the mandaps at night.
The Deputy Commissioner asked APDCL to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the puja days and the Public Health Engineering Department to provide water supply twice a day.
Mask stalls may be set up near the puja mandaps so that devotees can buy them in case they forgot to bring a mask along.
HAILAKANDI, Oct 16 - The Hailakandi Purahit Mandali, a body of priests of the district, has decided not to take part in Durga Puja, protesting against the district administration�s directive making it mandatory for them to undergo COVID-19 tests before and after the puja. The district administration has issued a set of guidelines for a subdued Durga Puja celebration with a view to minimising infection by the novel coronavirus, including mandatory COVID-19 tests for all members of the puja committees and priests.
Strongly reacting to the directive, the Mandali decided to stay away from the puja if the order is not withdrawn. They have also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner on Friday in this regard. The vice president of the Mandali, Ranjit Choudhury said that they are firm on their decision not to undergo test before the puja. The district administration has asked them to undergo COVID tests on Panchami and after Dashami.
Hailakandi Deputy Commissioner Megh Nidhi Dahal said that the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Durga Puja will have to be followed by all in letter and spirit.
Presiding over a meeting with the puja organisers at his office here on Thursday, Dahal urged them to adhere to the SOPs.
Dahal said that in view of the pandemic, the SOPs will have to be followed religiously to prevent spread of the disease during Durga Puja.
The Deputy Commissioner urged the puja committees to ensure social distancing, personal hygiene and wearing of face masks to keep COVID-19 at bay.
Officials of the administration present at the meeting said the puja committees have been asked to keep the puja mandaps open on all sides with separate entry and exit points. They were also asked to see that not more than 50 people gather at a puja venue at a time.
The puja committees were also told to apply for permission and to arrange for deployment of volunteers for regulating the devotees, and to ensure that the COVID protocols are strictly adhered to.
Superintendent of Police Pabindra Kumar Nath asked the puja committees to submit the list of volunteers before October 21.
The administration made it clear that no roadside construction of puja pandals and distribution of prasad will be allowed at the puja venues. Only home delivery of packed dry prasad by volunteers would be allowed.
All puja mandaps will have to be closed by 10 pm and eateries by 9 pm.
The administration said that processions have been prohibited and not more than 10 persons would be allowed at the time of immersion and, if required, the immersion would be staggered to avoid rush. Immersion will begin at 11 am and sanitisation of the immersion ghats would be carried out.
The administration also asked the puja committees to install CCTVs and fire extinguishers at the mandaps, besides deployment of at least two persons for guarding the mandaps at night.
The Deputy Commissioner asked APDCL to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the puja days and the Public Health Engineering Department to provide water supply twice a day.
Mask stalls may be set up near the puja mandaps so that devotees can buy them in case they forgot to bring a mask along.
