MAPUSA
With the impending fear of Covid-19, security guards armed with thermal guns will keep a check on devotees, as Mapusa gets ready to celebrate the biggest zatra in Bardez at the Bodgeshwar Temple.
The State administration has given a go-ahead to organise the Bodgeshwar zatra with several restrictions and put the ball in the temple committee’s court to follow the mandatory Ministry of Home Affairs Covid-19 guidelines.
“The collector has issued permission to hold the festival provided all Covid protocols are followed. We will also carry out daily inspection and ensure that all guidelines are obeyed. If need be, we will undertake remedial measures as per requirement,” said Kapil Phadte, Deputy Collector, Bardez.
The Bodgeshwar zatra will be held on January 27 even as the celebration continues for next six days up to February 2.
Normally, thousands of devotees converge at the temple for darshan but in the background of the Covid crisis it will be seen whether people will attend the festival.
The Bodgeshwar Devasthan committee has decided to provide face masks free of cost and vowed to take all measures to ensure incident free festival.
“We expect people to come in large numbers for darshan. The government has thrown open markets, bus-stands, railways etc. So I don’t see why people will shy away from the festival,” said Anand Bhaidkar, President of the Devasthan.
He said all Covid precautions as mandated by the government will be followed to the tee.
“Wearing of masks is compulsory. We have also made arrangement of providing masks free of cost at the site. We will ensure sanitisation and maintain social distancing among the devotees,” he said.
“Security guards with thermal guns will man the entry points and check the temperature of devotees while allowing them in,” he added.
The district administration has given permission for only 75 stalls as opposed to an average 900 stalls erected at the site in the past. Besides, a gap of 10 metres will be maintained between two stalls.
Bhaidkar informed few vendors selling flowers and bananas will be allowed due to Covid curbs.
Meanwhile, the Devasthan committee along with the Mapusa civic body has decided to continue the agenda of previous years of holding a plastic-free zatra.
A couple of days back, the Bardez Deputy Collector Kapil Phadte held a meeting along with the Devasthan committee and officials of various other departments to get first-hand information on preparation for the festival.
Mapusa Municipal Council Chief Officer Kabir Shirgaonkar, DySP Gajanan Prabhudesai, Mapusa PI Tushar Lotlikar, Mapusa Fire Station In-charge Bosco Ferrao and others were present for the meet.
