The Calcutta High Court today relaxed its order which declared Durga Puja pandals ‘no-entry zones’ for viewers amid the Covid-19 pandemic. After 400 top Durga Puja organisers in the state capital appealed for a reconsideration of the order,  and the court today permitted entry of up to 45 people at a time. The organisers moved towards the court on Tuesday as part of the Durgotsav Forum, an umbrella body of Durga Puja organisers.

Dhakis, or traditional drum players, are allowed to perform in a limited number, just outside the no-entry zone at each pandal, the court said today, adding the list of persons allowed should be fixed on daily basis. These lists will be furnished outside the pandals every day at 8 am.  While the larger pandals, which have an area of over 300 sq m, can list up to 60 people, not over 45 people can be permitted at a time. The smaller pandals can list up to 15 people. The court rejectd to pass any orders on the appeals by Kalyan Banerjee, who approached for the organisers, to permt two important rituals viz Anjali and Sindoor Khela.

On Monday, the High Court had stated only organisers would be permitted inside pandals - 25 for bigger Pujas and 15 for the smaller ones. The names of the organisers would have to be put up on a display board daily and could not be changed, the court added.

Goddess Durga idols not to be set up at Pooja Pandal before Shashthi in Purvanchal

No entry to public in Durga Pooja pandals in Bengal, Kolkata High Court orders

Durga Puja 2020 at Delhi-NCR Pandals, Know more