"No decision on Durga Puja yet," Cachar Administration; "Will act according to government's directives"

The district administration had convened a meeting with the representatives of Puja Committees earlier today. Additional deputy commissioner, Rajib Roy presided the meeting and explained that the objective was to collect suggestions on how the auspicious occasion must be celebrated in the upcoming Sharod Utsav.

Taking part in the discussion, the representatives of different Durga Puja organising committees shared their points of view.

According to a media statement shared by the DDIPR’s office, the committees requested the district administration to set a time limit for the immersion of idols to avoid gathering. The statement adds that the administration urged the puja committees to avoid the distribution of ‘prasad’ and to minimise the size of idols for hassle-free immersion with less involvement of people.

The DDIPR’s statement added, “It was agreed that the rituals and ‘Anjali’ should be held in the pandals in presence of a few persons comprising the organisers and priest with strict adherence to social distancing norms. Some of the puja committees requested for putting restrictions on the use of loudspeakers and segregation of the immersion ghats etc.”

ADC Rajib Roy, however, said, “No decisions were taken in today’s meeting.” He added, “We have taken suggestions from the respective Puja Committees. We will collate it and send it to the government. Reviewing these, the government will decide and we will act according to the government’s directives.”

He referred to the recently imposed lockdown as an example, “There was a non-objection from the government and based on that we acted. We will do the same as in case of guidelines to celebrate Durga Puja too,” said Roy.