Bengaluru: In a new directive, the B.S. Yediyurappa government overturned its 14 August order banning all Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. It has now allowed low-key celebrations without music or processions.
The move came as the government bowed to pressure from several Hindu groups who were demanding that the Ganesh festival celebrations should not be stopped.
According to a government official, who didn’t wish to be named, the chief minister discussed the plea made by several Hindu organisations seeking permission to install a few Ganesh pandals “as it has been the tradition for several generations”.
Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan told ThePrint that the decision to allow the festivities in public spaces was taken keeping in mind the religious sentiments of the people.
“Ganesh is known as ‘Vignaharta‘ or the one who removes all obstacles. We are all going through testing times during this pandemic and we hope that Lord Ganesh guides us through this safely,” he said.
“Having said this, we request people not to misuse the permissions granted to do as they please. It is important to follow the Covid guidelines, keep safe distance, ensure masks are worn and if a person feels even slightly feverish, he/she should avoid coming out in public,” he added.
What the new order says
In the new order, Karnataka Chief Secretary T.M. Vijay Bhaskar said Ganesh pandals have been allowed but on three key conditions — the idols cannot exceed the height of 4 feet in public spaces, processions won’t be allowed even during immersion, and entertainment and cultural programmes won’t be allowed.
The public installation of Ganesh idols has been allowed with limited attendees. The height of idols to be placed in homes can’t exceed 2 feet.
The 14 August order issued by the chief secretary had put a blanket ban on celebrations in public spaces. “Ganesh idols can be placed only in homes and temples and will not be allowed in public spaces,” it had said.
The new order added that immersion of the idols can’t be done in lakes, tanks or any open space. People who install the deity in their homes should immerse it on their premises.
It added that the festival can be celebrated in a simple manner, ensuring minimum public participation and following all Covid guidelines. “Idols must be immersed only in designated artificial tanks or mobile tanks constructed by the Karnataka Pollution Control Board,” it said.
Temple premises and public spaces need to be sanitised regularly and devotees need to wear masks and maintain 6-foot social distance while inside the pandal, it said.
In a statement, the Karnataka unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad welcomed the decision to allow “Sarvajanika (public) Ganesha Utsava”.
Preparations on for festival
Several Ganesh Utsav committees have begun preparations to celebrate the festival online. For instance, the organisers of the iconic 11-day Bengaluru Ganesh Utsav, which has been held for the last 58 years, have set up an auditorium where more than 500 artistes will perform but the entire programme will be streamed live.
This festival is one of the most popular Ganesh Chaturthi events where top musicians and actors from Bollywood and Carnatic music artistes participate.
“We wanted to continue the tradition and so we decided to ensure all our supporters get to watch the artistes live. They will be performing continuously for 12 hours at stretch. Over the last six months during the pandemic, artistes have been practising, but the stage is where they belong,” said Nandish Mariappa, managing trustee of the pandal.
“We have requested people to donate generously and these funds will be distributed among the artistes… We will be going live during the poojas and have also requested people to watch it virtually as much as possible,” he added.
Unlike Karnataka, neighbouring state Tamil Nadu has said no to public celebration of the festival.
An earlier report had highlighted how Maharashtra, where thousands of Ganesh pandals dot the state and the festival is celebrated with great fervour, has seen a dip of close to 60 per cent in pandals this year. Mumbai, which annually sees close to 12,000 pandals, has received just about 7,200 requests this time.
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