Navratri festival to be a low key affair this year

Aurangabad, Oct 16:

Due to coronavirus, the Shardiya Navratri celebrations will remain a low key affair with no large-scale programmes being organized in the city. Also, Navratri pandals will celebrate the occasion in a simple manner by following all the guidelines of the administration.

Against the backdrop of Covid-19, the 59-year-old tradition of playing Garba during Navratri festival has to be broken this year. This year, the height of the idol has been kept at 4 feet by organizers.

Limited pandals have been set up in vacant space as per the permission given by the police. Sanitizers will be provided for devotees going to the mandap for darshan. The number of Navratri pandals has also reduced this year.

Navratri market suffers a huge loss

Thousands of people from all over the country get seasonal employment in Karnapura fair during Navratri festival. The total turnover in the fair is of Rs 12 crore. Their business has sunk due to the cancellation of the fair this year. The market for Garba dress worn while playing dandiya is around Rs 1 crore and the turnover of Garba and Dandiya mandals is nearly Rs 4 to 5 crores. However, no celebrations will happen this year. Thus the market has lost crores of rupees due to Covid-19.

Guidelines of the administration

The height of the idol of the goddess for pandals is 4 feet, and for household idol is up to 2 feet. No arrival and immersion procession will be held. Not more than five volunteers will be present in the pandal. No food, drink and water will be served in the pandals.