Cuttack/Bhubaneswar: The customary idol immersion ceremony of Maa Durga will be held today sans public participation in view of the Covid-19 restrictions in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
On Monday, Vijay Dashami was celebrated at several puja mandaps of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
Elaborate arrangements have been made for the immersion of Durga idols in both the cities in order to avoid gathering and maintain social distancing.
Four time slots have been allotted to the puja committees -- 10 am to 12 noon, 12 noon to 2 pm, 2 pm to 4 pm and 4 pm to 6 pm for the immersion ceremony in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar which will be held as per COVID-19 norms today.
Cuttack DCP, Prateek Singh yesterday said that idols of 26 puja committees will be immersed at two different temporary sites earmarked by the district administration and Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC). The remaining idols will be immersed in 14 temporary sites located at different parts of the city, he added.
The immersion of idols will be conducted between 10 am and 6 pm. As per COVID-19 norms, only seven members per puja committee will be allowed to participate in the immersion ceremony, further said the Cuttack DCP.
Similarly, the Commissionerate Police has identified seven spots in the capital city for the immersion of Durga idols. Besides, the traffic movement has been restricted on some routes and diverted in some other routes of the city in view of the immersion ceremony.
Any kind of music including gongs and loud speakers will not be allowed in the procession. The organisers have also been directed to take the idol on a vehicle and immerse them in the designated spots without any pomp and show.
At least 22 platoons of police force have been deployed to maintain law and order during the procession in the smart city, informed Bhubaneswar DCP, Umashankar Das yesterday.
(Edited By Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)
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