BENGALURU: To curb the spread of Covid-19 infections, the government has banned mass prayers and processions during Muharram, and installation of Ganesha idols in public places during Ganesha Chaturthi.
The government on Thursday issued guidelines to prevent public congregations during the festive season that stretches till the end of October.
The guidelines ban installation of alams / panjas in public places as part of Muharram across the state. Processions and mass prayers are also banned till August 20. However, a minimum number of people can take part in Muharram-related rituals while maintaining social distance.
The government has also banned installation of Ganesha idols in public places. This means none can erect pandals or shamiyanas. But there is no ban on installing idols in temples. However, people must mandatorily be thermal screened and other Covid protocol such as social distancing and wearing masks must be adhered to. Temples should be sanitised every day all through the festival.
No processions and entertainment programmes are allowed during installation and immersion of Ganesha idols, the guidelines stated.
With the auspicious month of Shravana, which marks the start of the festive season, beginning on August 9, many districts including Bengaluru Urban, Tumakuru, Chamarajanagar and Dakshina Kannada had issued protocols to prevent congregations in temples and malls. This included closing temples on weekends. The state government had also ordered weekend curfew in border districts to limit the spread of the virus from Kerala and Maharashtra.
