Durga Puja: Commissionerate Police Comes Up With ‘Time Slots’ For Idol Immersion In Cuttack

Cuttack: The Commissionerate Police on Monday announced different time slots for Puja committees to conduct the immersion of Durga idols.

As per sources, the Commissionerate Police has allotted four time slots- 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 which will be held as per COVID-19 norms in the city tomorrow.

Cuttack DCP, Prateek Singh today informed that idols of 26 puja committees will be immersed at two different temporary sites as 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 tomorrow, he said.

“We had earlier held discussions with puja committees and briefed them about the process for the immersion ceremony which will be conducted as per COVID-19 guidelines,” said Singh.

Singh further informed that all the immersion of idols will be conducted between 10 am and 6 pm. As per COVID-19 norms, only seven members per puja committees will be allowed to participate in the immersion ceremony.

The idols will only be allowed to be taken for immersion in small vehicles and no Sahi parikrama (procession in the locality) will be allowed this time.

“Sahi Parikrama of the idols is not allowed as it will be difficult to maintain COVID-19 norms and social distancing. The idols will be escorted right from the puja pandal to the immersion site by police team,” Singh added.

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