Mumbai’s civic body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra government have issued a set of mandatory guidelines for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations which will be observed from Friday for the second year in a row amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is necessary to celebrate Ganeshotsav only by protecting oneself and one’s family from this scourge. For this, the following restrictions should be observed during this year’s (2021) Ganeshotsav, an appeal is being made by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for the safety of devotees, according to the statement a notice issued by the Greater Mumbai Municipal Corporation.

Physical darshan has been banned and and organizers have been asked to provide the facility of online `darshan’ or arrange telecast for devotees, considering the “potential danger” of a third COVID-19 wave.

The number of devotees in processions of public mandals has been capped at 10, all of whom should be fully vaccinated and completed 15 days after taking the second dose, and not more than five for household Ganpatis, “All devotees should wear masks and observe social distancing, the guidelines say.

In COVID-19 containment zones, mandals will have to make arrangements for the immersion of the Ganpati idols in the pandal premises or postpone it, while residents of sealed buildings will have to make arrangements at home for the immersion of idols. The height of household Ganpati idols and and public mandal Ganpati idols has already been reduced to two feet and four feet, respectively for the second year in a row to curb the spread of COVID-19 .

The civic body has warned of strict action under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Epidemic Diseases Act and the Disaster Management Act against violators.

Hindu women dressed in gorgeous colours celebrate Teej festival

Citizens have also been urged to immerse Ganpati idols in designated 167 artificial ponds at various locations for the 10-day festival. “Devotees living one or two km away from the beaches can immerse their idols in the sea. However, others who live far away should preferably immerse their idols at home or in artificial ponds,” the civic body said.