Gujarat relaxes night curfew timings for Janmashtami, Ganesh festivals

The Gujarat government has announced relaxation in night curfew timings in eight major cities of the state during the upcoming festivals of Janmashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi.

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government has announced relaxation in night curfew timings in eight major cities of the state during the upcoming festivals of Janmashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi. The decision was taken in a core committee meeting chaired by chief minister Vijay Rupani on Tuesday.

Instead of the usual 11 pm, the night curfew will be in force from 1 am on the occasion of Janmashtami on August 30. The night curfew will be in effect from 12 midnight during September 9-19 for the Ganesh festival. The new night curfew timings will be applicable in the cities of Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Gandhinagar, Junagadh, Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat.

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According to the guidelines, a maximum of 15 people with single-vehicle permission will be allowed for installation and dismantling of the Ganesha idol. Only the rituals of 'aarti' and distribution of prasad will be allowed at Ganesh Utsav venues and no other religious or cultural programmes will be allowed. Not more than 200 visitors will be allowed at temple premises at a time. For Ganesh Utsav celebrations, a 4-feet Ganesha statue can be installed in public and a two-feet statue in houses, the guidelines said.