The pandemic has changed our life a lot. A change in lifestyle, marriages, shopping and even in festivals can be seen very easily. Those festive vibes have almost disappeared over the last two years. The great pomp and show, fun, food and excitement, is no longer there like earlier times. As the month of October has started, a great festive season is waiting to come. Excitement, charm and celebration vibes have erased the new Covid-19 restriction issued by the government. Various committees and Bengali people get sad by these new regulations. Let’s see what are the restrictions Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has issued. What do people and different organizers have to say about it and how they will organize puja.
The guidelines issued by DDMA stated various restrictions and organizers were supposed to follow these SOPs strictly. Crowd gathering is not permissible at all in the venue. Only fifty per cent of people will be allowed with respect to the capacity of the place. Organizers have to ensure people did not get entry without a mask. Food stalls and other such activities can not take place. Apart from these organizers also have to make separate entry and exit points for the people so that people will not stand in large numbers at a place. Without following all these measures events will not be allowed to take place.
New Covid guidelines issued by the government reduced the enthusiasm of the Bengali community of Delhi. Organizing an event in accordance with all these SOPs is seemingly difficult. People said that the late issuance of guidelines makes it almost impossible to organize events in aesthetically decorated venues. Many puja committees of Delhi cancelled the celebration and those who are planning to say that celebration will be virtual. People will be allowed in limited numbers only. They ask devotees to enjoy and participate in puja through the live stream on the official Facebook page of the committee. The most important thing in puja is Bhog, but due to the guideline people can not have it this year as well. Though some of the committees decided to distribute Bhog door to door instead of in the venue.
While an eclipse seems to have shadowed over our community celebrations, the issued guidelines seem to be an ideal deterrent to the anticipated third wave. In the end, it is the spirit of the festival that counts irrespective of where we get to celebrate it.
