peepl-small

Assam Govt likely to release SOP for Durga Puja Today

PUBLISHED:

Guwahati:  Assam government will release Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Durga Puja on Wednesday, announced Health Minister Keshab Mahanta at a press meet in Dispur.

Addressing the media here Health Minister Keshab Mahanta said that the SOP for Durga Puja will be released today at 5.30 PM.

The Health Minister has also announced the second Ayurvedic College which will be set up in Dudhnai.

However, Minister Mahanta did not mention any guidelines for the upcoming Biswakarma Puja 2021.

Earlier Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the state will definitely celebrate Durga Puja but following all COVID-19 protocols.

Notably, last year when the entire country along with Assam was under the grip of the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic, the state government directed that after 10 pm, the puja mandap has to be closed down.

Further, the restaurants were asked to be closed down by 9 pm during the puja days. However, the DCs could modify some of these guidelines. Apart from these, people have to ensure the wearing of masks and usage of hand sanitisers.

With regards to immersion, Mass immersion was also not be allowed adding that only a single idol shall be immersed at a time. “Permission to immerse the idols should be taken 2-3 days prior from the district administrations. Processions accompanying the idols shall not be allowed,” the notification from 2020 stated.

Also, the organizers who plan to host Durga pujas should ask for permission from the district administrations and the organizers of the pujas should hold pujas in pandals with open roofs.

RELATED ARTICLES