PANAJI
Barely hours after issuing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, the State government did a flip-flop and withdrew its guidelines on Tuesday evening.
Claiming that the expert committee had suggested such curbs in the guidelines which led to “unnecessary panic” among people, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said he had asked the state administration to withdraw the SOPs immediately.
“I personally do not agree with some of the guidelines that were issued in the SOP, especially the one stopping priests from going to individual households for puja. Ganesh Chaturthi is the most important festival in Goa and such rituals are an integral part of it,” stated Sawant in a series of tweets.
“While the expert committee may have suggested such curbs, I have asked the administration to withdraw the SoP immediately. Chaturthi must be celebrated with full fervour while taking all the necessary precautions, given the pandemic. May Lord Ganesh bless us all.”
Speaking to reporters, the chief minister said the SOP had created unnecessary panic among people and the government withdrew the SOP after considering public sentiments.
“There are strong public sentiments on the festival. Devotees believe that a priest should visit their homes and perform puja,” said Sawant.
The chief minister told reporters that existing Covid-related guidelines would continue to be followed in the State.
“I appeal to people to take all precautions so that Covid does not spread during the festival. The existing Covid-related guidelines will be followed. People who are in home isolation should take more precautions, while those arriving from other states like Maharashtra and Kerala should take an RTPCR test.”
“Children should take more precautions during the festival season,” Sawant added.
With markets and other activities connected to Ganesh festival already abuzz with activity across the State, the government had been questioned for its delayed SOPs in view of the pandemic.
The government’s SOPs were finally issued on Tuesday morning, imposing restrictions on pujas during the festival.
While priests were prohibited from visiting houses of devotees to conduct pujas, families were also asked to perform online pujas.
“Families should encourage to perform pujas using various technologies means like YouTube, WhatsApp videos,” the earlier SOP stated.
The guidelines had also advised staggered timings for immersion of idols between 5 pm and 10 pm, while Sarvajanik Ganesh organisations were asked to conduct aarti, bhajan, kirtan and other religious programmes through online mode.
The guidelines were, however, widely criticised by people on social media, with many questioning the rationale behind these restrictions, especially when political parties had been conducting meetings with virtually no restrictions.
