Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to lift restrictions on the size of Durga idols and pandals for public celebrations of the the upcoming Navratri festival.
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the state government, on 18 September, issued directions limiting the height of Durga idols to six feet, and the size of pandals to no more than 10 feet x 10 feet. This was meant to discourage large crowds from gathering at pandals during the nine-day festival, which begins 17 October.
But on Saturday, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan decided to remove the restrictions after chairing a meeting to review the pandemic situation in the state.
The CM said in a statement that there will be no restrictions on the size of the idols, and that the pandals could be as big as 30 feet x 45 feet. The statement contained no explanation for the decision but, reached for comment, a state government spokesperson said it was a well-thought-out decision as smaller pandals were seen as more susceptible to overcrowding.
Other restrictions are still in place — the traditional garba dance remains prohibited and only 10 members of each organising committee will be allowed to take part in the procession to immerse the idols.
The government has allowed Ravan dahan and Ram Leela on Dusshera, but put no cap on the turnout of devotees during the festival. Wearing of masks and social distancing are compulsory.
The decision to remove the restrictions on idol and pandal size follow protests by Right-wing organisations such as Bajrang Dal, Jai Bhavani Sangathan and Sanskruti Bachao Manch against the curbs last Sunday in Bhopal. Police also had to employ lathicharge amid the protests, and many protesters are believed to have sustained injuries.
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Right-wing groups thank CM
The new guidelines were immediately welcomed by Right-wing organisations, with the Sanskruti Bachao Manch thanking the CM, Home Minister Narottam Mishra and Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur for “respecting the feelings of Hindus”. The group even held celebrations in Bhopal by beating drums, distributing sweets and raising slogans Saturday and Sunday.
Manch president Chandrashekhar Tiwari said they will soon felicitate the CM and the home minister.
Before the restrictions were revoked, the opposition Congress had also criticised them, even lashing out at the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government for the lathicharge at the protests.
Sharing images and video clips of the lathicharge, the Congress had called Chouhan “arrogant”.
“Lathicharge on workers of Hindu organisations. Many people were injured by the blows inflicted by Shivraj. In Bhopal, lathis were rained on the Hindus who were protesting against the Shivraj government’s unrestrained rules made for Durga Utsav. Shivraj ji, remember one thing — the end of arrogant individuals is quite certain,” the Congress tweeted in Hindi on 28 September.
हिन्दू संगठन के कार्यकर्ताओं पर लाठी चार्ज,
—कई लोग शिवराज की लाठियों से हुये घायल;
भोपाल में दुर्गा उत्सव को लेकर बनाये अनर्गल नियमों के विरोध में शिवराज सरकार के ख़िलाफ़ प्रदर्शन कर रहे हिन्दुओं पर लाठियाँ बरसाई गई।
शिवराज जी,
याद रखना ! अहंकारी का अंत निश्चित होता है। pic.twitter.com/zYGw1Y5ZZK— MP Congress (@INCMP) September 28, 2020
The episode comes just a month before 28 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh are scheduled for polls on 3 November.
A state government official admitted on the condition of anonymity that the government’s hand was forced by the intervention of the Vishva Hindu Parishad in the matter. The government, the official added, received a number of memoranda from different organisations regarding the rules.
However, contacted for comment on the change in rules, the state government’s commissioner for public relations, Sudam Khade, told ThePrint that it was a “judicious decision taken after deliberations over three days”.
The decision to allow bigger pandals was warranted by fears that smaller ones were more susceptible to overcrowding, and that more space will enable social distancing, he said.
Idol size has no bearing on the pandemic, he added, saying that the government wants to honour tradition and also ensure safety. “By not allowing garba and by asking organisers to strictly follow the Covid protocol, the government has ensured the risk is minimised,” he said.
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Good