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Mumbai: Ganeshotsav on the backdrop of Corona should be celebrated with simplicity keeping in view the social consciousness, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Tuesday, appealing all to ensure that there would be no crowds during Aagman (home coming) and Visarjan (Immersion) and not to let the Corona bomb explode again. He added that in some places Corona situation has reached the peak, whereas at some places it’s reaching the peak, so caution is required.
The festival, which in normal times brings lakhs of people on roads in a city like Mumbai, will begin on August 22 under the shadow of the Coronavirus pandemic. Everybody was expecting that Uddhav would announce the opening of Gyms and temples but no such announcement was made.
Thackeray was speaking at a review meeting with top officials through video conferencing in which Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope also attended.
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“The forthcoming Ganeshotsav which comes against the backdrop of COVID-19 crisis should be celebrated peacefully, keeping social responsibility in mind, Care should also be taken not to allow processions during arrival and departure and it should be ensured that the disease does not spread,” Thackeray said.
So far, people from all religions have cooperated with the government during festivals during lockdown, the chief minister noted. “Guidelines issued by the state home department say that the height of idols installed by Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandals should be of maximum four feet and that of idols installed at home should be of two feet. Ganesh mandals should facilitate online ‘darshan’ of idols, Thackeray said.
He also instructed the authorities to increase COVID-19 testing, control test charges and ensure that test reports are made available at the earliest. As vaccine is not available yet, wearing masks, hand hygiene and observing discipline is the only solution for now, the chief minister said. He also asked local government bodies to create a maximum number of artificial ponds to avoid crowding during immersion of idols.
