GUWAHATI: Assam Health Minister Keshab Mahanta today announced that a set of rules and restrictions to be followed by the people of Assam during the period of Durga Puja 2021, to be held later in the month of October.
> Committees will have to take DC's permission before organising the puja.
> All puja committee members have to submit their COVID19 vaccination certificate (for at least one vaccine dose) to DC while taking permission to organise the puja.
> Puja mandap must be open on all sides and spacious to maintain social distance. All Mandaps have separate entry and exit gates.
> Puja Committee should provide sanitisers at the pandal entry gates and masks and only should be given to people who are wearing masks.
> No Mela and Bazar will be allowed
> On the day of Panchami, all pujaris and people associated with the puja will be tested for COVID19. Further, they will be tested again after the Dashami.
> On visarjan day the DCs of the respective districts will notify the puja committee.
> No gathering allowed
> Curfew will remain from 9:00 PM until further notice. Further, the puja rituals should be completed in the stipulated time frame.
> The minister has urged the organisers of the Puja committees to follow the protocols. The Mandap and Pandals have to be sanitised before and after the Puja.
> The statutes should not be too large and no cultural programmes will be allowed.
> Citizens below 18 years are exempted from these protocols.
On the other hand, the state government is aiming to complete the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination before October 12.
More details are awaited.