In the light of the coronavirus pandemic, the Jharkhand government has issued a notification banning congregation and religious ceremony on the banks of rivers, ponds and other public water bodies for Chhath puja.

As per the guidelines issued by the State Disaster Management Committee late on Sunday, all precautions were being taken by the government to make certain the protection of people amid the pandemic.  As part of the measures, nobody would be allowed to organize any musical or cultural programme near the water bodies during the Chhath festival.

Further, decorative lights at public places and bursting of firecrackers, have been disallowed this time. The committee, in its notification, said that the practice of taking bath in one water-body by a group of people could increase the chances of virus transmission.  It also prohibited placing of barricades or earmarking of areas for the purpose of performing Chhath puja. The festival, to be held from November 17 to 21 this year, is usually marked by huge congregations. As there is a fixed time to perform the rituals, it would be hard to control the crowd, the order said. The notification further said that setting up of shops and stalls near the water-bodies won't be permitted.

Thus far, a total of 1,06,064 people have tested positive for COVID-19 cases in Jharkhand, of which 924 have succumbed to the infection.

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