Bhubaneswar, Sept 2:  In a view to breaking the Corona chain, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation(BMC) has issued fresh guidelines ahead of the incoming Ganesh Puja and other festivals.

According to the protocols, Ganesh puja will be held under strict adherence to the Covid guidelines. Institutions will have to take permission from the police and appropriate authorities to hold the puja. The common public will not be allowed to the altar at the time of the celebration. It is why the Puja altars will be covered up from three sides.

Similarly, the puja will be performed with at best 7 persons including the priest and the organizers. At the same time, the number of persons for educational institutions and coaching centres has been capped to 20.  However, all the participants should be double vaccinated. No feast or Prashad Sevan are allowed during the puja.

Similarly, the height of the idol will not exceed 4 feet that will be ultimately immersed at the artificial ponds prepared by BMC ,not elsewhere, said the guidelines.