Kolkata: Pandemic scales down Ganesh festivities to mere rituals at home

KOLKATA: Virtual darshans, smaller idols and no processions to mark the arrival and immersion of idols: Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in homes, complexes and even shops are witnessing several changes this year due to the pandemic.
The city has been witnessing a steep rise in Ganesh Puja over the past decade with several ‘barwari’ committees as well as residential complexes joining in the celebrations. Among many business families, however, it has been a tradition to organize Ganesh Puja at home or at their offices, seeking blessing from the god of prosperity. But this time, several families have cut down on all festivities and reduced the celebrations to a mere ritual to minimize the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus. The two back-to-back days of lockdown before the Puja also did not offer much time for preparations. A lot of people went out shopping for idols, flowers and sweets at the last moment on Saturday.
“We went out on Saturday morning and bought a 3ft-high Ganesh idol, along with some flowers and sweets for the puja on Sunday. In previous years, it used to be an occasion for the entire family to celebrate the festival together. The arrival of the idol would be the highpoint and then, we would decorate the place and make arrangements for the puja. This year, it will be a mere ritual,” said Harish Bali, a Posta businessman and Lake Town resident.
At CE Block in New Town, only a handful people could be seen inside the pandal on Saturday. “It is a basic affair this year. The puja will be live-streamed online, especially for darshan for senior citizens and those who are unwell. We have allowed very few people in the mandap, keeping in mind the safety measures in place,” said Samir Gupta of the CE Block Cultural Association.
Several businessmen even shifted the puja from their shops and offices to their homes to ensure minimal gathering. “Last year, we invited everybody from the market to the puja at my shop. But this year, it would have been very risky to do that. So, I decided to hold a small puja at home,” said Vineet Saraf, a businessman at Bagri Market.