Mumbai: Crowds at small Ganesh pandals flout Covid-19 protocol

Kids celebrate while devotees pray without masks at a pandal in Goregaon East. Pics/Anurag Ahire

Is there really a ban on physical pandal darshan in the city? It would seem that the answer to that question is no. Things seem to be going smoothly at various Ganesh pandals in the city, much like pre-pandemic times, especially at smaller and lesser-known places. In a streak of good luck, the out-of-business drum and dhol players got employed, as Mumbaikars did not shy away from hiring them.

Even as the popular and bigger mandals were seen following all Covid-19 protocols, the smaller ones were crowded, especially during aarti timings. Where the civic officials said that it is the police's job to take action on any violators, the police officials posted at various popular mandals said things are under control.

Physical darshan was easily available across the city, as not everybody stuck to the online system, and the first two days of the festivities saw some leniency on part of the authorities. However, one of the officials, on condition of anonymity, said, "For now, we don't have instructions to take action against the locals who are coming in for darshan, but if there is overcrowding, we may have to."

As per the advisory released by the BMC, there should not be more than five people at the time of bringing the idol or at the time of immersion for household Ganeshas, and only ten members of Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandals are allowed at the same time. Everyone also needs to fullyvaccinated.

One of the commuters travelling to Chembur, Jyoti Parkar said, "It took me one-and-half hours to reach Chembur from Andheri East, as many were on the streets taking the idol home."