Navratri 2021: No garba this year in Mumbai

People take part in Navratri celebrations at Kalidas ground in Mulund West in 2018. File pic

For the second consecutive year, Navratri will be a low-key affair. Going by its experience of this year's Ganeshotsav celebrations, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in a notice issued on Thursday that garba won't be allowed and not more than 10 people should be present in pandals for aarti or bhajan. Similarly, only five to 10 people will be allowed to be part of immersion processions

Similarly, only five to 10 people will be allowed to be part of immersion processions and residents of the buildings, which are sealed, won't be allowed to step out during the festival.

In the notice the civic body has clearly mentioned that garba and other religious programmes that attract crowds should be avoided. It has asked sarvjanik pandals to get permission for online darshan. Due to the pandemic, this permission is being given free of cost.

The notice further states that the height of the sarvajanik idols should not be more than four feet and that of house idols should be less than two feet. Not more than five people will be allowed to be part of visarjan processions of house idols and no more than 10 people can take part in those for sarvajanik idols.

Similarly, not more than 10 people will be allowed for aarti or bhajans in pandals, and all the attendees should have completed 15 days after the second dose of vaccine.

The notice states that mandals should organise online darshan, avoid programmes that attract crowds and avoid giving prasad. No one will be allowed at the immersion spots and ward officials and workers will collect the idols.