Vaccination to be mandatory for visitors willing to enter Durga Puja pandal’s in Silchar

Sept. 27: Thermal screening of visitors will be done before entering the Puja pandals in Cachar district during the upcoming Durga Puja festival. Vaccines will be made compulsory for visitors as well. The decision was taken at a meeting organized by the district administration in Silchar on Monday. In the meeting held under the auspices of Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Deepak Jidung, the Puja Committee officials and volunteers were instructed to complete the vaccine before Panchami.

ADC Jidung further stated that the devotees attending the events shall be allowed only after ensuring that they are having at least one dose of vaccination except for those below 18 years. He further stated that there is a complete ban on cultural programme during and post Durga Puja celebrations and no mela or fair shall be organised by the puja committee. The committees have to keep constant watch on the visitors so that no gathering takes place. The size of puja idols shall be limited in such a way that carrying the idols shall require minimal number of people as allowed by ASDMA.

The Puja committees were also asked to install CCTV cameras in the puja mandapas. It asked the members of the Pujo Committees to submit their names, addresses, contact numbers, etc. to the police and magisterial branch of the district administration at the earliest. Keeping in view Covid protocols, all gathering in the form of Anjali, prasad distribution etc should be done very carefully adhering to covid norms in a staggered manner and devotees should be encouraged to bring flowers from home to avoid congestion.

The health department has been asked to continue in Covid test in the pandals and to mark the entry and exit of visitors in the mandapas. The meeting decided to provide 24-hour vigilance in turns by the volunteers in the puja pandals. The committees were also advised to keep fire extinguishers, sand and water in the mandapas. Additional Deputy Commissioner Cachar, Sadhan Sarkar said that  the use of sound system should be in a low decibel. He also directed PWD roads division to complete repairing and construction works of roads well ahead of Durga Puja. He further stated that ambulance services should be kept in ready condition to meet any emergency during puja days.

Taking part in the discussion, the representatives of different Durga Puja organising committees aired their opinions in one voice on celebrating the ensuing Durga Puja festivity in a simple way . They requested the District Administration to set a time limit for immersion of idols to avoid gathering.

The meeting attended by various puja committees was also graced by two Executive Magistrates Sadhan Sarkar, Kamal Barua and Additional Police Super Partha Pratim Saikia.