After Tejasvi Surya's stern letter, Bengaluru civic body eases curbs on the Durga Puja festival
The BBMP has also relaxed rules on allowing the use of musical instruments like drums during prayer rituals.
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Bengaluru, October 08: After Tejasvi Surya's strong objection over Bengaluru Mahanagara Palika's illogical restrictions for Durga Puja, BBMP has now revised its guidelines for the Durga Puja celebrations in Bengaluru.
The BBMP has also relaxed rules on allowing the use of musical instruments like drums during prayer rituals.
On 6 October 2021, BBMP issued guidelines for the Durga puja and announced that the height of Durga idols should not exceed 4 feet. Moreover As per the orders of the BBMP only one idol of Goddess Durga should be installed per ward with the permission of the respective Joint Commissioner of the zone. Under the name of the guidelines, the BBMP also had even imposed a ban on the use of drums for the festival.
Following this, the BJP MP from Bengaluru south Tejasvi Surya wrote a stern letter to the BBMP Chief Commissioner and called the rules issued by BBMP discriminatory, arbitrary, and illogical. He had also asked to revisit the rules.
He said, “The restrictions imposed through the order regarding the size of the idol appears to be taken without any logical relevance. It is beyond the understanding of any reasonable person as to how the size of the idol is related to the spread of the Covid-19 virus. There is no basis for this decision of allowing idols that are only 4ft or below. This is prima facie arbitrary and devoid of merit.”
Responding to the criticism, BBMP finally relaxed restrictions on Durga Puja with immediate effect. The BBMP said that its chief commissioner Gaurav Gupta spoke to senior officials and Durga Puja associations and then revised the guidelines.
During the Pushpanjali and Sandhi puja time, one has to follow all Covid-19 Appropriate Behaviour and allow only 50 people in batches. There is no restriction on the total number of batches now, BBMP clarified.
“The restriction of installing Durga idols not more than 4 feet is removed. During the pushpanjali and sandhi puja, one has to follow all Covid-19 appropriate behavior and allow only 50 people in batches. There is no restriction on the total number of batches,” the BBMP said in a statement on Thursday.
The BBMP also added that wards can have more than one idol with the permission of the joint commissioner. “During the prayer rituals, musical instruments like drums use are allowed,” the BBMP said.
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