The Jamshedpur Durga Puja Kendriya Samity (JDPKS) has started zone- ise meetings with puja organisers ahead of the festival scheduled to be held from October 22 to 26.

The meetings are being organised with the intention of taking feedback from puja organisers vis-à-vis restrictions imposed by the samity in view of the pandemic. This time, the samity wants all organisers to do away with dhakis, bhog, lighting, decoration, small idols and big budget pandals in an effort to minimise risks.

Organisers of community puja at flats and housing societies have been asked to do away with idols. Instead, they have been asked to use photographs of Goddess Durga.

“We have started meetings with puja organisers for taking their feedback and suggestions on the restrictions. It is necessary to take stock of the mood of the organisers as we want a risk-free and peaceful celebration without hurting the sentiments of people,” samity general secretary Rambabu Singh said.

Speaking to The Telegraph Online, he said they have already taken a decision on keeping the Pujas a low-key affair this time and it was important to remind the organisers about the restrictions once again.

“We are also noting down the requirements of the organisers who have different needs,” Singh said, adding a total of 320 pujas spread over 32 zones are held under the banner of the samity.

Some puja organisers are keen to limit the occasion to just "kalash sthapna".

According to him, they were giving a re-look to bhog distribution which is an important element related to the Pujas and is very much attached to the emotions of devotees.

“We are looking at the logistics of bhog distribution to see how it can be distributed among devotees by maintaining social distancing. It is very early to say anything at this point of time as we have already omitted it from our list. We are taking suggestions from puja organisers in this regard,” Singh said.

The samity is also focussing on how to maintain social distancing.

“Though we are sure very few members will be coming out of their homes during the Pujas, we cannot take a chance. We don’t want to be lethargic in maintaining social distancing. Adequate number of volunteers will be deployed to help maintain it,” one of the JDPKS functionaries said.

According to him, they will hold more zone-wise meetings and after taking feedback and suggestions from puja organisers, will meet the district administration.

“We have already announced the list of Covid-related restrictions for Pujas and it is possible that the administration may add some more. This will be known once we meet officials in the administration,” the member added.

Meanwhile, the mood among people is far from exciting. Steel city markets are not crowded with puja shoppers. The usual happiness is missing and people seem to have accepted that revelry and pandal-hopping would be a thing of the past this year.