This 10 day festival of Ganesh Chaturthi which starts on the fourth day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar of the month Bhadrapada, is celebrated grandly for the arrival of Lord Ganesha to earth. Ganesh Chaturthi which is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi will start on September 10 this year. Of course, everyone will be excited to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi grandly but unfortunately, the Delhi people will not be able to celebrate it so grandly or publicly as expected every year.
On Wednesday Delhi had banned the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi in public spaces this month in an initiative to have control over the spread of coronavirus disease and the pandemic situation. The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) in an official order said on Wednesday that the celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi will be banned in public spaces and also cited the ongoing pandemic restrictions as the reason.
Till now the spread of coronavirus is growing more in Delhi. Delhi adds an average of 40 new covid-19 affected cases each day for the past seven days according to the data of the state government. The Delhi government is taking all the measures to have control over the spread of Covid-19. So to continue these measures to control the transmission of the virus, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has taken the step to prohibit the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi and stated this in its order. According to a Hindustan Times report, the order reads that all social, political, sports, entertainment, cultural festivals, religious-related gatherings, and congregations are prohibited for now. It also added that no visitors will be allowed at religious places in Delhi.
The DDMA (Delhi Disaster Management Authority) explained in the order that, “the Ganesh Chaturthi festival will be celebrated during this month i.e, in September 2021 and considering the prevailing restrictions on gatherings and congregations and present situation of the covid-19 pandemic that has been decided that the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations may not be allowed in public places and people may be advised to celebrate their festival at their home only.” The order also added, “It is also directed that the district magistrate and district DCPs convene meetings with religious, community leaders, and Ganesh Chaturthi festival communities before the festival to get their cooperation to maintain law and order and harmony and also to sensitize public for compliance of guidelines, instructions issued for competent covid-19 by the government from time to time.” And accepting the order, the general secretary of Ganesh Mahotsav Samiti in South Delhi Mehrauli, Ashok Bansal said that the committees have voluntarily decided to avoid the public event celebration of the festival because of the spread of the pandemic.
The Delhi disaster management authority also said that the deputy commissioner of police and district magistrates will ensure and check that the lord Ganesha idol should not be kept in any tents or pandals. And it will also be checked that no crowds should gather at any religious or social place. The order, which was signed by the chief secretary of Delhi Vijay Dev requested the devotees and advised the people to celebrate the festival at home and the permission will not be granted for any procession.
The permission for a community celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi is seeked by around a hundred committees in Delhi every year, but thousands of people prefer to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in their homes and immerse the idols in the Yamuna
Although Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated this month, taking into consideration the restrictions are also the possibility of coronavirus through gatherings at the present situation of the covid-19 pandemic, it was decided by the government to not allow the celebration of the festival and gathering of the people in public places.
Similarly, the Maharashtra government has also prohibited Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations publicly.
