Durga Puja pandals get ready for celebrations: In pics

Kolkata: Even though the Calcutta High Court has ordered all Durga puja pandals to be made into a 'no entry' zone, the organisers and artists have done everything in their hand to keep the festive feelings alive amid COVID-19. They have prepared pandals and idols like every other year, but this time with keeping coronavirus protocols in mind.  

 

The pandal organisers have strictly kept COVID-19 protocols in mind, while the artists have tried spreading the message of 'wear masks' by putting a mask on idols' faces. 

 

 

As per a few reports, the 'No Entry' boards have already been placed outside Puja pandals at few places after Calcutta High Court's order on October 19, 2020. 

 

 

 

The court ordered that only organisers can enter the Puja pandals in the state.

 

 

"The court’s order further mentioned that the smaller pandals will have barricades five metres beyond the extremities of the pandals and 10 metres beyond the extremities of the bigger pandals," said Advocate Sabyasachi Chatterjee, the petitioner of the PIL.     

 

(Photo: IANS)

The widely celebrated festival will commence from October 22 this year. In 2020, Mahalaya, which is the beginning of the Devi Paksha and end of the Pitru Paksha, took place on September 17. Usually, Durga Puja begins six days after Mahalaya but this year it is different due to mala maas - lunar month having two moons. 

 

 

Durga Puja and Sharad Navratri coincide and are celebrated not just in the country but abroad by Indian diaspora as well. 

 

 

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked Durga Puja organisers to set up open-air pandals and implement COVID-19 safety protocols.

 

 

(Photo: IANS)

A security guard dons a face mask and a face shield as he stands guard outside a community puja pandal ahead of Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata.

 

 

 

(Photo: IANS)

(Photo: IANS)

Several devotees visit a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata.

 

 

 

(Photo: ANI)

Devotees visit a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata.

 

 

 

 

(Photo: ANI)

A Goddess Durga idol at Bhawanipur 75 Pally in Kolkata. 

 

 

(Photo: IANS)

An idol of Goddess Durga at Khidirpur 25 Pally ahead of the Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata. 

 

 

(Photo: IANS)

An artist gives finishing touches to an idol of Goddess Durga at a community puja pandal at CR Park's Kali Bari in New Delhi.

 

 

 

(Photo: IANS)