Jharkhand government on Wednesday night issued two amendments to its earlier Durga puja guidelines, giving in to the demands for relaxation from several quarters including from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) — the lead ruling alliance party. Public address system has now been allowed at puja venues between 7am to 9pm only for live chanting of mantras/paath/arti and restriction of people inside the marquees has been increased to 15.

Earlier, the use of public address system was banned and only seven people were allowed inside the marquees at any given point in time.

Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh notifying the amendments said, “Use of public address system will only be allowed from 7am to 9pm for arti, chanting of mantra or paath. The sound limit should be within the prescribed limit of 55 decible. However, use of loudspeakers will remain banned within 100 m around vicinity of hospitals and courts. This apart, 15 people instead of seven will be allowed in the marquees. All other earlier clauses of the puja guidelines will remain unchanged. The amendments will be in force with immediate effect.”

Puja organizers across the state were opposed to several clauses of the state guidelines issued earlier in the first week of October which was mainly aimed at keeping puja as low-key as possible to curb any chances of crowding. JMM and opposition BJP too later backed some of the demands by puja organizers by separately writing letters to the state government seeking amendments so that the rituals and traditions related to the puja can be complied with.

Ranchi Zila Durga Puja Committee (RZDPC), an apex body of over 100 puja samities of Ranchi however gave a mixed response to the recent amendments adding that they will continue to adhere all the prescribed norms.

Talking to The Telegraph Online, Ashok Purhoit, president of RZDPC said, “We are happy about the amendments, but another key demand of ours, to allow the distribution of bhog, is unfulfilled. However, with no time left anymore, we shall go ahead with whatever rules exist in place.”

He added that all puja samities are trying their best to keep their premises crowd free but the district administration should step up its vigil on the streets and other hot-spots to ensure people don’t crowd unnecessarily. Purhoit said, “We can only appeal people to not crowd but there could still be chances of many rogue groups and elements violating the rules. The administration should also equally take the onus to curb it and not put all the blame on puja committees later on.”