Ganpati Bappa Morya! Mangal Murti Morya! Amid COVID-19 , no Idol Immersion at public places, police to fine public if found breaking rules.
Picture Credit - Preeti Soodan Devgan
Ganesh Chaturthi which is also known as Vinayak Chathurthi is celebrated every year as the birth of Lord Ganesha. Considered as a symbol of wisdom and good fortune, Lord Ganesha is known to have 108 names. The auspicious day of Chaturthi, Shukla Paksha, Bhadrapada, that devotees were eagerly looking forward to has arrived.
On this day, Ganesha was born to Devi Parvati and Lord Mahadev. During the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, the chants of Ganpati Bappa Morya reverberate in the air, and the sounds add to the aura and charm of Lord Ganesha, who is hailed as Sukhkarta (doer of good) and Dukhharta (the one who destroys sorrows).
People throughout the country celebrate this festival with great vigour and enthusiasm. They bring an idol one day prior to Ganesh Chaturthi. On the day of Chathurthi, they made sankalp after ‘Praan-pratishtha’ to keep an idol for 1 and 1/2 day, either for 3,5, 7, 9 or for 11 days followed by Ganesh Visarjan and expecting him to visit every year. Laddoo or Modak is the favourite food of Lord Ganesha. It is believed that Ganesha with four arms( Chaturbhuj) is believed to be auspicious if we keep it at home.
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This year in the pandemic situation, the government has urged all the citizens to take an idol of only eco-friendly Ganesha. There will be no large congregations, community celebrations or idol immersion at public places on Ganesh Chaturthi in the national capital this year in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.A fine of ₹ 50,000 will be imposed on violators. Idol immersion in the Yamuna river was banned following an order by the National Green Tribunal in 2015.
Last year, the Delhi government had created artificial ponds at public places for people to immerse idols. But, this time “Idol immersion in artificial ponds, too, is not allowed this time by looking at the situation because large gatherings will increase the risk of virus transmission,” a DPCC official said. Even Community celebrations as large congregations are prohibited this time by the government. The pollution control body has asked residents to perform the idol immersion ritual in a bucket or container at home.
The Delhi Police and civic bodies have been directed to check the entry of vehicles carrying idols into the city. Idol makers and sellers have been directed to use natural material “as described in the holy scripts” like traditional clay to make idols. Painted Idols are prohibited too as paints, colours and dyes used in making idols contain hazardous chemicals such as mercury, zinc oxide, chromium, lead and cadmium which harm aquatic life and can cause cancer, respiratory ailments and skin infections among humans.
Wishing everyone Happy Ganesh Chaturthi 2020 on this joyous occasion and Hoping this Ganesh Chaturthi will be the start of the year that brings happiness for you.
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