Vadodara: The capital of Gujarat’s culture may not witness ‘Sindur Khela’ – a ritual observed by Bengali women on the last day of Puja this year’s Durga.
The Bengali community is in a dilemma because of organizing Durga Puja this time because of restrictions announced by the police department.
Community members are not only disappointed but they say that their sentiment was hurt by a ‘illogical’ covid limit.
“The police department has said that we cannot have Durga Pandal or celebrate the festival in open party plots or ‘atitithigruh’.
So, where can we put a pandal and do Puja Durga? We guarantee the police that all visitors will follow the Covid protocol and Wearing a face mask, “said Ritwik Majumder, Secretary General, East Western Cultural Association who has held Puja Durga in the city for the past 35 years.
The association has ordered a party plot in Subhanpura to regulate puja.
“We have been told that we can do puja in housing colonies but not on party plots.
What is safer? Do puja in a large party plot where worshipers can keep the right social distance or pack hundreds of people in a small area in some colonies? “Questioning Majumder.
Every year around 18 Pandal Durga is installed throughout the city and thousands of the Bengali community attending Puja.
Community members say that they are expected to get permission for Durga Pandal because the police have allowed thousands of ganesh pandals throughout the city this year.
“Before Covid, around 1,000 worshipers visited our pandal but last year we limited the crowd to only 100.
Even this year, we have decided to allow only 150 people and follow all Covid guidelines.
But the circular police forbid a pandal on the party plot and ‘atitichigruh’ Really disappointing, “said Kalyan Chatterjee, Secretary General, Dakshin Baroda Sanskriti Parishad.
“We have asked the police to give us permission to install Durga Pandal in a party plot so that the festival can be celebrated safely,” Chatterjee Toi said.
When contacted, Shamsher Singh City Police Commissioner said, “I have been told of their request.
We are working on a solution to ensure that the Bengali community can celebrate Durga Puja safely in the city.” Police tend to give permission to pandal under the category of cultural events.