Maddox Square in Ballygunge will be a no-adda zone this Puja.

Members of Ballygunge Durga Puja Samity, which organises the Maddox Square puja that has over the years emerged as a favourite meet-and-chat point for pandal-hoppers, have decided to prevent any gathering at the park as a precaution against Covid-19.

In previous years, addas at Maddox Square would continue throughout the night on all five Puja days.

“This time around 70 volunteers will spread out across the park in shifts and request everyone to leave after darshan,” said Amalendu Sarkar, one of the organisers. “We will request visitors with folded hands that let the adda sessions be held at your homes and not here.”

This will be the first time that the organisers of the 85-year-old puja will make such a request to visitors.

Members of the puja committee will visit the 350-odd homes of the locality with the request that none of the family members or guests stays back at park after darshan to lounge around.

“We will try to explain to everyone of our para-family that since this year is different, we have been forced to take certain steps for the benefit of all,” said Subhasish Adak, of the puja committee.

Apart from regular announcements through the public address system, the organisers have decided to set up a police picket inside the park for round-the-clock surveillance. Police will be requested to join the volunteers in requesting visitors to leave the park after seeing the idol.

No stalls will be set up at the park to avoid crowding.

Veterans recalled how decades ago Maddox Square would have night-long cultural programmes during Puja. While such programmes stopped long back, Maddox Square continued to be the favourite adda zone for puja revellers, including those from outside Calcutta.

Metro had earlier reported how Covid Care Network, an organisation of health officials, doctors and those who have recovered from the coronavirus disease, had appealed to the people to avoid crowds during the Puja to avert a spurt in Covid-19 cases after the festivity.

“Puja will not be the same without adda at Maddox Square,” said Chaitali Deb, a second-year college student from Ballygunge. “But we have to come to terms with the new normal.”