Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday announced that people of the State can celebrate Chhath Puja and perform rituals on the banks of water bodies in limited numbers, while maintaining social distancing.
Talking to media persons outside Jharkhand Ministry here on Tuesday the CM said that the Government has decided that people can celebrate the Chhath festical at water bodies across the State with social distancing and necessary precautions.
“It is my personal request and I have seen thousands of people have been celebrating Chhath at their homes for several years. The times are tough this time and therefore I appeal to people of the State to celebrate the festival as far as possible at their homes,” he said.
The CM said that the Disaster Management department’s guidelines for Chhath puja are in accordance with the Central Government’s directives and also with the words of the Prime Minister. “Our PM has been repeatedly saying ‘Jab tak koi dawai nahi tab tak koi dhilai nahi’ (No relaxations till there is any medicine) and two yards distance is important. These two lines are in the order of the Government,” he said.
“My first priority today is the safety of the people of the State. The infection has not gone. I must inform you that several paramilitary personnel and other people have gone to Bihar for elections. Many of them are Covid positive today. Many people have also gone to Bihar for Chhath festival. We cannot say what will be their condition when they come back,” he said.
The CM further informed that water supply in the State is totally based on water reservoirs and other water bodies. “On the basis on public sentiments we have decided that people can celebrate the festival following the social distancing and other guidelines of the Government,” he said.
Earlier, the members of the State Disaster Management Authority held a meeting in the presence of CM and Health and Disaster Management Minister Banna Gupta. In this meeting, in view of Covid-19, there was a detailed discussion about the safe organising of Chhath Mahaparva.
The CM said Chhath Mahaparva is associated with public faith. A large number of devotees attend this mahaparva lasting four days. Devotees gather in rivers, ponds, dams, lakes and other water bodies for evening arghya and morning . In such a situation, in view of Corona infection, there should be a vigilant and safe arrangement for organising Chhath Mahaparva in a safe and secure manner.
He said that in view of the great faith of public faith, partial amendments are being made in the guidelines issued earlier by the Government.
Health Minister Banna Gupta said that a large number of people celebrate this mahaparva. In such a situation, keeping in view the public sentiments, a partial amendment should be made in the guidelines issued earlier for offering in rivers, ponds, dams, etc. in a safe environment. Guidelines should also be ensured.
In this meeting, Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Rajiv Arun Ekka, Principal Secretary of Health Department Dr Nitin Madan Kulkarni, Principal Secretary of Finance Department, Himani Pandey, Secretary of Disaster Management Department Amitabh Kaushal and Agriculture Animal Husbandry and Cooperation Abu Abu Baqr Siddiqui were present.
