Ranchi: After the state government issued safety guidelines on Tuesday, Kali Puja will be observed without the usual fanfare across the city on Saturday as large gatherings and bursting of firecrackers are restricted.
Following the guidelines, several puja committees said they are planning to telecast the rituals online.
Pradip Rai of Durgabadi Puja Committee said they will start the rituals around mid-night of November 14 and continue till the next morning. He said the turnout of devotees at the puja venue is expected to be less than previous years because of the Covid threat.
The Kali Puja Sawagat Samiti founder Prem Verma said they have started making preparations for the puja. He said, “ For the past several years, we organized ‘maha aarti’ in which 1,100 women took part. This year, the event will be held online for which links will be shared. Women from Ranchi and several other cities have shown interest in taking part in the ritual.”
The organizers said the idol and the structures will be made small as done during the Durga Puja to discourage people from coming to the venue.
Manoj Burman, a member of another puja committee in Doranda said, "All Covid safety measures, including social distancing, sanitization and wearing of masks will be made compulsory at our puja venue. We have also ordered small idols measuring not more than four feet in height. We will also conclude the puja in two days."
He added, “The government's safety guidelines should be followed in entirety to prevent the virus."