Mumbai Police on September 9 imposed section 144 of the CrPC in Mumbai from September 10 to 19.
With Ganesh Chaturthi just round the corner, Mumbai Police shared new guidelines for celebrations. “There should be no procession for the arrival of Ganesha idols. A group of maximum five persons will be allowed for the arrival of Ganesha idols. A group of maximum five persons will be allowed for arrival,” the order applicable under the jurisdiction area of Mumbai Police commissionerate read.
In the wake of a rise in the number of new coronavirus infections and fear of a third wave, the BMC has banned physical darshan for devotees at the public Ganpati pandals and appealed to citizens to celebrate the festival with simplicity on September 8.
For bringing the idols of the deity during their immersion, there will not be more than 10 people in the processions of public mandals and not more than five for the household Ganpatis, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in the guidelines issued.
“All devotees should wear masks and observe social distancing. Also, the 10 participants should have taken both the doses of COVID-19 vaccine and completed 15 days taking the second dose,” the guidelines said.