DDMA gives nod for Durga Puja, Dussehra celebrations in Delhi, but with curbs

Organisers will have to ensure the number of people in a venue does not exceed the number of seats, DDMA said, even as it disallowed stalls and fairs.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Wednesday decided to allow Ramlila, Dussehra and Durga Puja celebrations this year in public places but with a set of restrictions. However, the authority is yet to issue an order regarding the decisions taken at Wednesday’s meeting.

Effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad set afire during Dussehra celebration in Delhi last year. (Ajay Aggarwal/HT Photo)

Organisers will have to ensure the number of people in a venue does not exceed the number of seats, DDMA said, even as it disallowed stalls and fairs. Additionally, organisers have also been asked to ensure there is 100% mask compliance, and separate entry and exit points are provided for, apart from a few other restrictions that the authority will soon notify in a standard operating procedure (SOP) document, said three officials aware of the matter.

Delhi’s lieutenant governor Anil Baijal on Wednesday said that DDMA will consider allowing schools in the city to resume in-person classes for students of classes 6 to 8 after the festive season.

Baijal said in a series of tweets: “Chaired the 25th meeting of DDMA to review the COVID19 situation in Delhi... As suggested by the experts, it was decided to consider opening middle school classes 6-8, after the festive season. All the stakeholders were called upon to work in a coordinated manner towards ensuring adequate preparedness for tackling any future challenges.”

Currently schools are allowed to conduct in-person sessions for students in Class 9 and above.

This year Dussehra will be celebrated on October 15, Diwali on November 4 and Chhath Puja on November 10.

Baijal is the chairperson of DDMA, and CM Arvind Kejriwal is its vice-chairperson.

“In the wake of the upcoming festive season, Delhi Police and the district administration will ensure Vividh (various) appropriate behaviour enforcement and take care that gatherings during the festive season are strictly in compliance with the laid down SOPs that include no standing crowds, separate entry and exit points, appropriate social distancing for seating, no activities (like fares, stalls and giant wheel etc) that attract crowds in violation of social distancing and onus on organisers for ensuring SOPs are followed,” said a senior official in Raj Niwas who was present in Wednesday’s meeting.

The decisions come as the Capital’s Covid-19 caseload is at its lowest levels since the outbreak of the pandemic in March last year. Delhi on Wednesday added 41 Covid-19 cases at a positivity rate of 0.06%, and no deaths.

The city added an average of 34 cases each day over the past seven days, even as the test positivity rate continued to remain below the 0.10% mark consistently since mid-August. The city has added just five deaths of the infection so far this month.

Last year, the DDMA prohibited Durga Puja committees from organising public celebrations, and Ramlila committees were asked to opt for live streaming. Burning of effigies in Dussehra was allowed in a few locations, with restrictions on the size of crowds.

Arjun Kumar, general secretary of Luv Kush Ramleela committee, said: “We met government officials several times in the past few week and assured them that we will ensure all safety regulations are followed. We are happy that the government has trusted us. However, we will continue to live stream the Ramleela on social media and we have tied up with cable operators too.”

Robin Bose, general secretary of the Durga Puja committee in Kashmere Gate, said: “We will ensure that all regulations are strictly adhered to. Safety of people comes first. We hope that the process of taking permission from the police and sub-divisional magistrate’s office is expedited too.