Bhubaneswar: The Covid-19 pandemic, which began spreading its tentacles in the state four-five months ago, is not slowing down rather is getting aggravated.
Keeping this in mind, organisers fear that the annual festival, scheduled for August 22 this year, may not see that extravagance or glamour and might be a muted affair.
The pandemic, which began as a health crisis, has metamorphosed into an economic debacle and now its domino effects are visible everywhere.
Every year, across the state and particularly in the Capital city, the festival is marked by devotion, glamour and glitz, but this year organisers would not be on a spending spree, rather they will cut down on the budget.
Popular pandals across the City namely at Unit-IV, Sahid Nagar, Master Canteen, Rajmahal, Ashok Nagar, Bapuji Nagar and Laxmisagar may see a low-key celebration.
Orissa POST talked to several puja organisers in the city and their somber replies testify that the situation is grim and excitement is at the lowest.
Bhabani Shankar Jena of Winners Association in Sahid Nagar said, “We aren’t organising anything big. We have to ensure social distancing and strictly adhere to the protocols.” It will be a low-key affair, he added.
“No musical programmes or cultural affair would be there. Lord Ganesha’s idol will be immersed the next day only,” Jena said.
“Last year, we created a 48-ft-tall Dashavatar Ganesh idol which gained a lot of attention, unfortunately this year there will be no such things.”
Indrajeet Singh, secretary of Diamond Club in Budheswari Colony, said that this year the puja will be a simple affair as the pandemic has just worsened things.
Last year, the Diamond Club created a Ganesh idol with blue stones and Rajma.
Meanwhile, the state’s Covid tally Sunday crossed the 17,000-mark with 595 fresh cases.
DOMINO EFFECT
The domino effect of the pandemic woes can be gauged after speaking to the idol makers.
Biranchi Nayak, an idol maker from Kendrapada, said that his business “is almost gone.”
“Usually, we start making idols three-four months in advance. Our order book keeps getting bigger and bigger as we approach the puja date, but it’s like a drought this year as no one is willing to spend extravagantly and many have cancelled celebrations even.”
It may be mentioned here with respect to religious affairs that this year, the Supreme Court put a bar on devotees pulling the majestic chariots in Puri Rath Yatra. Only 500 servitors and police personnel were allowed per chariot and a curfew was in place across the Pilgrim CIty to bar congregation of devotees.
Earlier, the Mumbai Ganesh Puja associations have also decided not to organise the Ganesh Puja festival.
Arindam Ganguly, OP