Delhi: No Chhath Puja celebrations in public places for second year

NEW DELHI: Delhi Disaster Management Authority has banned Chhath Puja celebrations in public places, including at riverbanks, ponds, temples and public grounds in view of the pandemic. In an order on Thursday, DDMA, however, allowed public performances for Ramlila and the celebrations of Durga Puja and Dussehra subject to Covid-appropriate behaviour.
Chhath puja is celebrated by people from Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh.This year, the festival will span four days from November 8 to 11. Last year, Chhath and all festivals were banned due to Covid. With the pandemic at a low at present, DDMA has relaxed the ban on gatherings in public till November 15. Delhi government has issued a detailed standard operating procedure, which prohibits fairs, food stalls and other crowd-pulling activities to prevent crowds and to facilitate social distancing.

DDMA has instructed district magistrates and the deputy commissioners of police to permit festival events only after ascertaining that the venues are suitable for the conduct of the event while following Covid safety norms. The authorities have also been asked to revoke the permission if they detect violations of the norms.

The norms are very strict. No fairs, melas, food stalls (inside or outside the venues), rides, rallies or processions will be permitted. No standing will be allowed, only seated attendance. District authorities have been asked to appoint nodal officers for each Ramlila or Durga Puja venue and they will be responsible for strict compliance with DDMA’s order. The organisers have been asked to ensure video-recording of the event every day and submit a soft copy of the unedited video recording to the nodal officers along with a certificate that no norms were violated within three hours of the closing of event each day.
Nodal officers are to view the video recording daily to ensure no Covid norms were violated. The DMs and DCPs have to submit a certificate of compliance at all events under their jurisdiction to the chief secretary.
As for capacity at each venue, in a closed space a maximum of 50% of that space can be used, with a ceiling of 200 persons. In open areas, the size of the ground and observance of social distancing norms will decide the crowd capacity.
“This is a critical period because of the possibility of people ignoring Covid behaviour amid large gatherings, events, fairs, etc,” DDMA said in its order. “It is critical to enforce adherence to guidelines to allow festivities in a cautious, safe and Covid-appropriate manner. Any laxity in implementation of Covid-appropriate behaviour could lead to serious consequences and result in a surge in cases.”
Arjun Kumar, secretary Lav Kush Ramlila Committee, one of the oldest Ramayana re-enactment organisers in Delhi, said they would follow all the norms laid down by the government. “The preparations for our Ramlila performance on the Red Fort grounds are in full swing,” added Kumar
In case, any violation of the DDMA order is detected, the organiser of the event as well as other people responsible for it will face proceeding under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and other provisions of relevant laws.