JORHAT, Nov 19 - The top cultural event of Majuli � the Raas celebrations � will not be a miss for the Brahmaputra residents this time due to COVID-19 pandemic as the district administration has allowed to organize the festival in a low-key manner under certain restrictions.
Raas will be celebrated in Majuli from November 29 to December 1 this year.
When contacted, the Majuli Deputy Commissioner Bikram Kairi told The Assam Tribune on Thursday evening that a meeting presided over by him was held with Raas organisers at his office chamber today to discuss about organising the event as per COVID-19 SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) prepared by the State government in view of the ongoing pandemic. Kairi said the organisers agreed to cooperate fully with the district administration in organising Raas as per the restrictions imposed by the Government.
The Deputy Commissioner stated that as per the Government SOP only 50 per cent of total capacity of the auditoriums will be allowed for spectators but the maximum number of people could not exceed 200. Wearing of face masks inside festival venues will be compulsory for all.
All artistes and other people to be involved in performing Raas, organisers, volunteers will have to undergo test for COVID-19 before 48 hours of the first day of the celebrations, the DC informed.
If any artiste or crew members were 11 years of age and below 18 years, the organisers will have to obtain written permission from the parents of such performers, and children below 10 years and persons above 65 years will not be permitted to take part and witness Raas celebrations, the SOP mentioned.
Further, there will be separate entry and exit points at the festival venues and thermal scanner and hand sanitizers will be required to be made available at entry points, the SOP stated.
The Deputy Commissioner also informed that no melas, any kind of kiosks, stalls will be allowed to be put up at Raas venues as per the SOP. Kairi said that the organisers were told that they will have to apply for permission to organize the festival from the district administration by November 25.
