Kohima, October 1 (MExN): The Nagaland Government on Friday issued a set of guidkeines to be followed during the celebration of the Durga Puja festival, so that the spread of COVID-19 is prevented.
AS per the new guidelines which were issued through the state DIPR, the government has stipulated that setting up of puja pandals would be allowed only outside containment zones.
The timing for the visit of the devotees to the pandals shall be from 5:00 am till 9:00 pm and the maximum number of persons including organisers allowed to gather at any time in the puja pandals should be up to 50 % of the capacity, subject to adherence to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour such as maintenance of social distancing, wearing of masks, etc.
“The puja organizers should not allow any person to enter the puja premises without face cover/mask and washing/sanitizing of hands. It shall be the responsibility of puja organizers to arrange for facilities for hand washing/sanitization at entrance of puja premises,” the guidelines stated.
Organizers have also been asked to ensure that markings are made in the waiting area or queue outside the premises to ensure social distancing, along with deployment of volunteers or private security to assist the police in ensuring wearing of face mask, social distancing etc., outside the respective puja premises.
The organizers should ensure sanitizing the premises before opening and after closing and every 6 hours during the day, it added.
All visitors to puja location shall be subject to thermal scanning by puja organizers and no person with any symptoms related to COVID-19 shall be allowed to enter the puja pandals. In case any person or visitor to the puja pandal is suspected to be symptomatic with COVID- 19, it shall be the responsibility of the puja organizers to inform the nearest Government medical facility and arrange for shifting of such person to that medical facility, the guideline stated.
It also advised persons above 65 years of age, children below 10 years of age, person with co-morbidities and pregnant woman to avoid visiting the puja pandals.
A maximum of 50 (fifty) persons will be allowed to be a part of any immersion procession and for completing the ritual of immersion, and all concerned should observe COVID-19 appropriate behaviour at all times, it stated.
In addition to the usual authorities in the Districts giving the necessary permissions to the puja committees or organizers for putting up pandals, the authority for giving the final clearance this year will be the respective District Task Force headed by the Deputy Commissioner. The DTF shall also make necessary arrangements with the concerned puja committees or organizers to ensure that immersion of the idols is suitably staggered so as to avoid congestion and large gatherings at the immersion sites. Concerned district Superintendent or Commissioner of Police shall make necessary arrangements for security, traffic, enforcing compliance to COVID-19 appropriate behavior etc., the guidelines stated.
It further cautioned that any violation of the guidelines would attract action as per legal provisions against the puja committee or organizer or the individual or devotee as the case may be.
