A day after mandals said they won’t take responsibility if devotees land at pandals, BMC says all physical darshans stand banned
Preparations at the Lalbaugcha Raja pandal on Tuesday. Pic/Ashish Raje
The BMC on Tuesday issued guidelines directing mandals to ensure there is no physical darshan during Ganeshotsav. The guidelines come a day after mandals said they won’t be responsible for devotees who land up for darshan. BMC has allowed 10 fully vaccinated members of sarvajanik mandals to be part of the arrival and immersion of the idol but without processions.
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These members should have completed a 15 days period after the second dose as well. Similarly, for household idols, only five family members who are fully vaccinated and have completed 15 days following the second dose will be allowed to go for the arrival and visarjan. mid-day was the first to report the opening of beaches and lakes for immersion and 10 members of sarvajanik mandals being allowed for immersion without processions. The official guidelines came on Tuesday evening.
A huge crowd of shoppers at Chhabildas lane in Dadar West, on Tuesday. Pic/Suresh Karkera
There are a total of 73 natural immersion sites in Mumbai. There will be arrangements for idol collection provided by BMC with additional manpower. Some idol collection centers have been set up by BMC wards too. It is mandatory to perform pooja and aarti of the idol at home or in the mandal before handing over the idol to the municipal management at the collection centre, artificial lakes or natural immersion sites. It is forbidden for citizens or members of Ganeshotsav mandals to go into the water and immerse idols. Children and senior citizens should not go to the place of immersion.
Further guidelines have specified that the vehicle carrying the idol should not move slowly and not stop for darshan on the streets. In order to reduce congestion at natural immersion sites, artificial lakes have also been set up at 173 places in the 24 wards of the corporation. Devotees living near the artificial lake should make use of it for immersion. All the household idols in the building or slum should not be taken together for immersion.
A civic official said, “If all the idols are taken together then the citizens will say we have to drive slowly and there will be a crowd of over five people. But we will not allow this and so taking the idols together in one vehicle is not allowed and stopping on the roads is strictly prohibited.”
People shop for decorations for Ganeshotsav at the municipal market at Vile Parle east on Sunday. Pic/Satej Shinde
In the meeting held under the chairmanship of the Mayor of Mumbai in the presence of the representatives of Ganeshotsav Mandal on September 2, the increasing number of Covid-19 patients as well as the possible third wave was considered. So it was decided that Ganeshotsav mandals should provide darshan facility for devotees online, through cable networks, websites, Facebook, social media, etc.
“The immersion of the idols of the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandals in the containment zones should be done in pandals or it should be postponed. Please note that arrangements have to be made at home for immersion of Ganesh idols in sealed buildings. If the house / building is declared as a restricted area during Ganeshotsav, the restricted area rules should be followed. The rules laid down by BMC/police administration should be strictly followed,” stated the advisory released by the BMC on Tuesday.
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