Mumbai: In the wake of Covid-19, BMC has denied permission to celebrate Chhath puja near water bodies.
As per the BMC order, Chhat Puja will not be organized this year at Juhu Choupati. Former MP and the organizer of Chhat Puja, Sanjay Nirupam has appealed the people not to visit Juhu Choupati and immerse Nirmalya in a bucket full of water.
Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar urged people to celebrate Chhat Puja at their home or societies.
Due to the COVID outbreak in Maharashtra, BMC has appealed devotees to celebrate all religious festivals with simplicity. Due to the COVID infection, celebrations at beaches or banks of the rivers are prohibited.
Sanjay Nirupam said, ''I have been arranging Chhath Puja ceremony for 25 years. This year I am not going to arrange a program at Juhu Choupati and I myself will not visit there. I will celebrate the Chhat puja at my home.''
Nirupam also appealed people to immerse Chhat material in a bucketful of water.
Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar said that BMC has banned gathering at beaches for Chhat Puja for the safety of women devotees. Chhat Puja will be observed but people should prepare a small water tank and worship there. BMC will also make artificial ponds at some places. People should gather there for worship.
Pednekar further said that, as we have celebrated Ganpati, Navratri, Diwali festivals complying with the protocol, the same procedure will be followed for Chhat Puja.
The citizens gather at beaches, lakes or rivers at the time of sunrise or sunset in large numbers to immerse the Nirmalya.
Additional Municipal commissioner Suresh Kakani appealed that in the light of the possibility of the second wave of Corona, the citizens so far co-operated while celebrating festivals by following instructions about physical distancing, wearing masks at public places. They should now co-operate for Chhat puja also. The necessary permissions pertaining to public programmes to concerned organizations have been given on departmental level. The circular has been issued.
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