RANCHI: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Sunday criticized the state government’s decision to prohibit the use of dhak and public address systems in Durga Puja pandals of the state as “illogical” and demanded a roll-back of the same.
In an open letter to chief minister Hemant Soren, JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya also urged the former to consider revising the upper limit of people who can be present in the pandal at one time and attend the immersion procession “keeping in mind the rituals and traditions”.
JMM said: “The people of Jharkhand welcomed with open arms the decision to prohibit public gatherings and host fairs during the Durga Puja. But the ban on use of public address system during the chanting of Vedic mantras and sandhya arti is illogical. This year, revellers cannot offer their pushpanjali to the deity. If the public address systems is used, then the revellers can perform the rituals at home by hearing the mantras.”
JMM also urged Soren to revisit the decision, which allows only seven people (including the priest) to be present inside a Puja pandal at one time. “Much more people are required to be present to carry out the rituals, such as sacrifice and Kumari Puja. The rituals also mandate the presence of dhakis,” Bhattacharya wrote, adding that Soren must consider capping the maximum number of people inside a pandal at 25.
The letter also criticized government guidelines which restrict the number of people participating in the immersion rituals to three. Bhattacharya wrote: “The immersion procession has to be conducted in the presence of priests and musical instruments. So it is imperative that you reconsider allowing a maximum of 25 people to be a part of the immersion procession wearing gloves and masks.”