Karnataka bans processions during Muharram, Ganesh Chaturthi amid COVID-19 fears – Check details

KEY STORY

•  Amid concerns over a possible third wave of coronavirus, the Karnataka government on Thursday issued an order banning all processions during Muharram and Ganesh Chaturthi festivals till August 20.

• In its order Muharram processions, the state government has said that all prayers are to be held in mosques in strict compliance with COVID norms. Persons aged below 10 years and above 60 years to offer prayers at their homes.

• “All kinds of processions have been banned from August 12 to August 20. Alam/panja and tajiyath can be viewed from a distance without touching them. Wearing a mask is mandatory in prayer halls. All prayers are to be held in mosques in strict compliance with COVID norms. Except for masjid, mass prayer gathering is not allowed in community halls, open ground, shadi mahal etc on the occasion of Muharram,” read the state government order.

• The state government has imposed similar restrictions for Ganesh Chaturthi. In its guidelines, it has stated that no pandals, processions and entertainment programmes will be allowed for Ganesh Chaturthi. Ganesha idols should be submerged in designated places only. Temples that are observing the festival should be properly sanitised every day.

• “No pandals to be set up for Ganesh Chaturthi. It has to be celebrated in a simple manner. Procession/entertainment program should be organised while bringing and submerging time of Ganesha idol. Ganesha Gowri idols should be submerged in designated places only. Temples that are observing the Ganesh Chaturthi festival should be properly sanitised every day. Devotees should be allowed after using sanitiser and temple administration should arrange thermal checking,” added the order.

  COVID situation in Karnataka

• As many as 1,857 new COVID infections and 30 deaths were reported in Karnataka in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of infections to 29.24 lakh and the toll to 36,911, as per the state government data on Thursday.

  The day also saw 1,950 discharges, as it outnumbered the fresh cases, thereby resulting in the dropping of the active caseload to 22,728. The total number of recoveries in the state so far has increased to 28,65,067.