All the 169 akharas in the steel city kept their Ram Navami celebrations muted in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Thursday, the akharas performed a simple puja.

The grand procession that passes through the main thoroughfares of the city every year before culminating at Subernarekha ghat will be conspicuous by its absence on Friday.

“We will take the idols and the religious flags directly to the river,” said Pradeep Lal, convener of Lalan Akhara in Sonari.

Jumbo Akhara in Bhalubasa followed social-distancing norms. The volunteers used hand sanitizers and offered them to the devotees before starting the puja.

“We witnessed a footfall of around 800-1,000, but they all were disciplined and we ensured they maintained hygiene and distance,” said Bunty Singh, the patron of the akhara.