West Bengal gets ready for Durga Puja celebrations amid COVID-19: In pics

Kolkata: Amid the unprecedented outbreak of the coronavirus, the devotees are all set to celebrate the auspicious Durga Puja with COVID-19 guidelines.

 

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 on September 24, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked Durga Puja organisers to set up open-air pandals and implement COVID-19 safety protocols.

 

(Photo Credits: IANS)

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and State Cabinet Minister Firhad Hakim during their visit to the Durga Puja pandal at the Kolkata's Chetla Agrani Club.

 

 

(Photo Credits: IANS)

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee clicked while painting an eye of an idol of Goddess Durga during her visit to the Durga Puja pandal at the Kolkata's Chetla Agrani Club.

 

 

(Photo Credits: IANS)

As per reports, major Durga Puja committees have decided that visitors' flow to open-air marquees will be continuous to ensure social distancing and that people will be asked to bring their own flowers for the 'pushpanjali' ritual. No devotee will be allowed to enter the pandal without a face cover.

 

 

(Photo Credits: PTI)

(Photo Credits: IANS)

An idol of Goddess Durga at the Kumartulli workshop being made to wear a mask. 

 

 

(Photo Credits: IANS)

People gathered at a market to shop for the Durga Puja festival. 

 

 

(Photo Credits: IANS)

 

(Photo Credits: IANS)

The Abasar Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal being sanitised due to COVID-19 outbreak. This came ahead of the much-awaited Durga Puja celebrations.

 

(Photo Credits: IANS)

A community puja pandal being sanitized of Durga Puja festival. 

 

 

(Photo Credits: IANS)

(Photo Credits: ANI)

An artist gives finishing touch to a demon.

 

 

(Photo Credits: ANI)