Guwahati: At least one dose of covid vaccine will be required to enter the Puja Pandal in Assam in the upcoming celebration season, the Minister of Health of West Kawab Manganta said on Wednesday.
The direction is intended for worshipers and organizers.
The upcoming pujas will be locked up on mere rituals and the government has limited cultural programs around the pandal.
“The Puja Committee must take permission from the office of their respective deputy commissioners.
All committee offices and members of the Committee Organizing must be vaccinated with at least one dose before applying,” said Manganta.
He added that DC had been asked not to allow cultural celebrations or exhibitions related to pues.
He said the Assam government would do all efforts to vaccinate all 18+ residents who met the first dose before Durga Puja began.
Mahanta added that the puja pandal must be extensive with a separate entrance and exit.
“Volunteers need to be vaccinated together with priests,” he said, relaxing to the age group under 18 to show vaccination status.
“The size of idols should not be large so only a few people can shift this,” he added.
In Pancaami, said Manganta, priests and organizers who helped them have to go through Covid testing.
After Vijaya Dashami, they will be tested again.
All volunteers, priests and puja organizers must be tested mandator before the puja starts and after immersion, even though they are vaccinated.
District administration has been asked to give permission to the Puja organizers only to satisfying observations they will be adequately vaccinated.
Furthermore, enough trained volunteers must be deployed at the entry point by the committee.
The overall supervision will be carried out by a team formed by the District Administration.
If there are people with alleged symptoms detected, Puja’s pandal will immediately bring this problem with the district administration notices.
Positive cases must be shifted to Covid testing facilities.
“Adequate sanitation measures must be done to ensure all salvation in the pandal,” Manganta said, adding that timing curfew must be followed by Puja Pandal.