JAMSHEDPUR: The big-budget Durga Puja committees in Adityapur are fuming at the state government for issuing the guidelines — some of which are “impractical” — at the “eleventh hour when most of their preparations are done”.
Some organisers like S Type and Singhbhum Boys Cricket Club held a meeting on Tuesday where they have decided not to adhere to the guidelines unless the government modifies them. Besides defying the rules, they have even threatened to launch an agitation, along with the devotees, if the guidelines are not altered.
S Type puja committee president Bablu Singh said, “We have no issues following rules like using sanitisers, wearing masks and allowing only a limited number of devotees inside the pandal. But how can the government expect us to follow rules like constructing only 4ft-tall idols when we have already placed orders months ago. Most of the idols are nearing completion and it is impossible to change the measurements now.”
He further said, “Even constructing open pandals (as per the guidelines) now is a problem since most of them are ready and we just have a few days left before the puja begins.”
Maa Bhawani Youth Club president Ambuj Kumar echoed Singh’s views and said construction of the idols is almost done and only 30% of the work is left. “We started preparing for puja three months ago and it is not possible to follow such impractical guidelines now,” Kumar said.
He added that either the administration imposes a blanket ban on organising public pujas this year or allow it to take place like before. “The administration has no right to toy with the religious sentiments of the devotees,” he said.
Jai Ram Sporting Club, another big-budget puja committee in Adityapur, had decided months ago to construct its usual-sized idols and a theme-based pandal and they will not compromise on that, said club chief and former MLA Malkhan Singh. “Our volunteers will ensure social distancing norm is followed but there will no changes made to the idols’ size,” Singh said.
An administrative official preferring anonymity said action will be taken against the violators at the right time.
Some organisers like S Type and Singhbhum Boys Cricket Club held a meeting on Tuesday where they have decided not to adhere to the guidelines unless the government modifies them. Besides defying the rules, they have even threatened to launch an agitation, along with the devotees, if the guidelines are not altered.
S Type puja committee president Bablu Singh said, “We have no issues following rules like using sanitisers, wearing masks and allowing only a limited number of devotees inside the pandal. But how can the government expect us to follow rules like constructing only 4ft-tall idols when we have already placed orders months ago. Most of the idols are nearing completion and it is impossible to change the measurements now.”
He further said, “Even constructing open pandals (as per the guidelines) now is a problem since most of them are ready and we just have a few days left before the puja begins.”
Maa Bhawani Youth Club president Ambuj Kumar echoed Singh’s views and said construction of the idols is almost done and only 30% of the work is left. “We started preparing for puja three months ago and it is not possible to follow such impractical guidelines now,” Kumar said.
He added that either the administration imposes a blanket ban on organising public pujas this year or allow it to take place like before. “The administration has no right to toy with the religious sentiments of the devotees,” he said.
Jai Ram Sporting Club, another big-budget puja committee in Adityapur, had decided months ago to construct its usual-sized idols and a theme-based pandal and they will not compromise on that, said club chief and former MLA Malkhan Singh. “Our volunteers will ensure social distancing norm is followed but there will no changes made to the idols’ size,” Singh said.
An administrative official preferring anonymity said action will be taken against the violators at the right time.
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