Mumbai Live

On Tuesday evening, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued guidelines for Ganesh Utsav this year. It has tightened the rules for Ganesh pandals this year due to the ongoing pandemic and COVID-19 third wave that is likely to hit by October. Read also: COVID-19 Vaccination: BMC Releases List of over 300 Centers Administering Only Second Dose Today According to the new guidelines, no mandals should allow physical darshan. However, BMC has allowed 10 members in sarvajanik mandals who will be permitted to become a part of arrival and immersion of the idol which has to be without procession, provided they are fully vaccinated. The 10 fully vaccinated members who will be allowed should have completed 15 days after the second dose and for household idols; similar guidelines will be applied wherein five members should have completed 15 days after the second dose. Only then they will be allowed to be a part of arrival and visarjan. Further, restrictions have been imposed for citizens and for members of the Ganeshotsav mandals with regards to entering the water during visarjan. Along with them, senior citizens and children are not to be allowed in the place of immersion. In total there are 743 natural immersion sites in the city. According to the media reports, an advisory that was released by the BMC has stated, “The immersion of the idols of the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandals in the containment zones should be done in pandals or it should be postponed. Please note that arrangements have to be made at home for the immersion of Ganesh idols in sealed buildings. If the house/building is declared as a restricted area during Ganeshotsav, the restricted area rules should be followed. The rules laid down by BMC/police administration should be strictly followed.” Read also: Mumbai wards see a spike in COVID-19 cases