Chief Minister Pramod Sawant promptly called for the withdrawal of Standard Operation Procedures announced by his administration for Ganesh Chaturthi, and his action appears justified because such strong strictures could have largely dampened the spirit behind the festivity. In a tweet, the CM said “I personally do not agree with some of the guidelines that are issued, especially the one stopping priests from going to individual households for pooja. Ganesh Chaturthi is the most important festival in Goa and such rituals are an integral part of it.”
Apparently, the restrictions have been drawn by the expert committee after due deliberations, and they cannot be faulted against the backdrop of CM's calls for cautious and toned down celebrations in view of the looming third wave. What is however baffling is the manner in which the SOPs were made public. The CM appears to have taken note of the strictures only after they were announced. This is unfortunate because it exposes an inherent flaw in the system where issues that need prior attention of the CM, have taken the auto-pilot mode.
The SOPs that were announced completely took the festivity out of the Chaturthi and reduced it into a mere ritual. Priests were barred from visiting households for poojas. People were directed to take the online mode for community celebrations, which means aartis, bhajans, kirtans and other rituals were to be held in virtual modes like YouTube and Facebook. Families were told to hold visarjan within the premises of respective houses.
Ganesh Chaturthi ushers in a wave of festivity in the State. Advising online celebrations of such a major festival is unfair to the people who cannot connect to the virtual space. It’s unfair to the locals and those in far-flung rural areas who have been preparing all this while to welcome Lord Ganesh. The eleventh-hour restrictions would only mean pouring cold water on all their plans and taking away the essence of this major festival.
Festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi have a high intensity of devotion and community involvement. It is baffling however that the Chaturthi bonhomie between people sparks anxiety in the minds of leadership, not the political melees and crowds that are going unchecked. Imposing severe restrictions on religious festivities and allowing political rallies, gatherings and protests on a daily basis smack of political hypocrisy. No party is currently following Covid protocol of distancing. Forcing communities into seclusion and allowing chaos and disorder on the streets is ludicrous. Communities and faithful are made scapegoats via a senseless, irrational and immoral route which is being chosen to prepare the ground for a "blame game" where politicians are the major culprits. We can't comprehend the theory that political congregations are immune to the virus.
Yes, Goa has to be on its guard and there is a concern that Maharashtra, which is also celebrating Chaturthi, has already announced the arrival of the third wave. The Goa government has to advise caution, heighten surveillance, create a large-scale awareness and allow people a decent household celebration. Let sanity prevail.
