Gujarat Govt Issues Festival Guidelines Amid Covid-19

Ban on Navratri, Dussehra, Durga Puja and Diwali celebrations, only Aarti and Establishment in Navratri: Government Guidelines. For a long time now, there has been a debate in Gujarat as to whether the state government will allow Navratri to be held or not, although guidelines have been issued by the state government today, according to which no garba can be held in public in the state.

Gujarat Govt Issues Festival Guidelines Amid Covid-19

During Navratri, Garbi / Murti can be erected in public and Puja-Aarti can be done in public, but photos or idols cannot be touched. Prasad cannot be distributed. The government has issued guidelines for the celebration of Navratri festivals including Garba, Dussehra, Besata Varsh, keeping in view the state of transition of Koro, which will be implemented from October 16.

The public celebration of the upcoming festivals requires the prior approval of the local administration. Mass events like fairs, rallies, exhibitions, Ravanadahan, Ramlila, Shobhayatra where large numbers of people gather will be banned. In case of violation of these instructions, legal action will be taken against the concerned venue-manager, organizer.

Gujarat Festival Guidelines Key Point

  1. According to the decision, no Garba will be held in the state during Navratri.
  2. This means that no type of garba, including public or street garba, can be organized in the state.
  3. During Navratri, Garbi / Murti can be set up in public and Puja-Aarti can be done in public, but photos or idols cannot be touched or prasad cannot be distributed.
  4. This will require the approval of the local administration.
  5. No more than 200 people will be able to gather and the duration of the event will be one hour. All SOPs must be complied with.
  6. In areas other than the content zone, social, educational, sports, recreational, cultural activities, planning of religious ceremonies will also be allowed subject to certain conditions.
  7. Physical distance with a distance of six feet and floor marking for that.
  8. The face must be properly covered at all times throughout the ceremony.
  9. Oxy meter facility with thermal scanner, sanitizer as well as stage, mic, chair should be sanitized periodically.
  10. Handwashing, sanitizer facilities will all be mandatory.
  11. There will be a complete ban on spitting as well as consumption of Pan-Masala, Gutkha during the ceremony.
  12. Adults above 65 years of age, children below 10 years of age, pregnant mothers as well as persons suffering from other ailments should not participate in such ceremonies.
  13. If such ceremonies are held in halls, hotels, banquet halls, auditoriums, wedding halls of caste societies, town halls or other closed venues, they may be held within the limits of 50 per cent or a maximum of 200 persons.
  14. Up to 100 people can take part in a celebration like a wedding reception.
  15. Posthumous funeral – The ritual will have a maximum of 100 persons.

Due to the transition of Koro, the government is unilaterally banning the planning of religious festivals like Navratri, Dussehra, Durga Puja and Diwali and guidelines are being issued for the same.

Divya Bhaskar Gujarati News Report on Gujarat Festival Guidelines

But during these festivals, by-elections are going to be held in 8 assembly seats in the state. Filling the subscription form is starting from today. Meanwhile, the Congress and the BJP will field their star campaigners.