The upcoming Vinayak Chaturthi celebrations on September 10 will be a low-key affair this year in Tamil Nadu due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. In a bid to prevent the spread of Covid-19 due to crowding, Tamil Nadu government on Monday decided to stop people from installing Vinayaka idols in public places and carrying them in a procession for immersion in waterbodies across the state during the festival. It also extended lockdown restrictions till 6am on September 15. It added that permission will be given by local police stations for immersion of the idols at water bodies.
The state government's order also said that permission will not be granted for religious processions, sports competitions like 'Uriyadi'. Monday's order is part of the state government's restrictions imposed on all religious celebrations. Individuals can drop the idols near the temples and HR&CE department will take adequate steps to immerse them. The idols will not be permitted to be immersed in the sea at Marina beach from Santhome to Napier bridge in Chennai.
Generally, resident associations, youth clubs, and other social organizations install Vinayaka idols in different street corners for a few days and then carry them in a grand celebration to be immersed in water bodies. The Hindu Munnani was planning to install 1.25 lakh Vinayaka idols of various sizes in different parts of the state as part of the festival.
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