Just ahead of Durga Puja, Tripura govt issues 17 more stringent guidelines

Oct. 20: With just a few days to go before Durga Puja, Tripura government has come up with 17 more stringent guidelines. The state government in its attempt to halt the further spread of the virus during the festival has issued these guidelines.

• Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) has been made mandatory for puja organisers, priests and volunteers by Panchami.
• Covid-testing teams will be available in all the big budget puja pandals, according to an official memorandum considered as Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
• There would be no community puja in the containment zones this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the festival may be celebrated at home.
• Procession and dance during puja days would be strictly prohibited as part of the SOP.
• The priests will have to chant prayer on loudspeakers so that people’s gathering could be avoided during the puja days and only a limited number of devotees (10/15) will be allowed to offer prayer (Anjali).

• If a pandal hopper develops Covid-19 symptoms, he or she would not be allowed to enter the mandap.
• Persons aged 65 and beyond, pregnant women, children aged below 10 years have been advised not to visit the pandals during the festival.
• Fairs near puja mandap are also banned.
• The puja organisers will have to arrange CCTV coverage in and around the pandal and are dutybound to share footage in case of any need.
• Maintaining physical distancing and mask are also must for the pandal hoppers