Durga Puja festivities kick start under strict guidelines

The temple and market areas will miss the usual hustle-bustle as people were advised to avoid crowded places and visit temples following all coronavirus protocols.

Masaurhi: Festivities connected with Durga Puja or Durgotsava as it's popularly known started on Saturday amid special arrangements to check the spread of coronavirus.

Unlike arrangements in previous years, no special 'pandals' were erected in view of the coronavirus pandemic. Worship of the deity will be held only in temples.

'Kalash' was established in the temples and at a few public places so that people could offer their prayers accordingly.

The temple and market areas will miss the usual hustle-bustle as people were advised to avoid crowded places and visit temples following all coronavirus protocols.

Interacting with ETV Bharat, Gopal Pandey, a temple priest, said his main prayer during this Durga Puja would be to remove pandemic form the dace of the planet.

"I would pray that coronavirus is removed from the face of the earth," he said.

Meanwhile, authorities have also instructed citizens to refrain from organising 'melas' this year as it would be difficult to maintain social distancing in such surroundings.