Jamshedpur Durga Puja Kendriya Samiti, the apex body which monitors pujas in the steel city, is concerned that even though the festival is less than a month away, the administration is yet to issue any guidelines for organisers.

Samity functionaries said on Friday that they were yet to get any directives from the district administration with respect to pandals and idols. "We had recently met health minister Banna Gupta, who also looks after the disaster management portfolio. But he is yet to get back to us. We have, therefore, asked several puja organisers not to book idols with local artisans, " said Ram Babu Singh, general secretary of the samiti.

The samiti has started zonal meetings with puja organisers in the run up to the festival to be held between October 22 to 26 and has also issued certain guidelines for puja organisers.

It has banned donations and has asked organisers to do away with bhog, dhaki, fairs, lighting and lavish pandals. Organisers of community pujas at housing societies have been asked to use photographs of the goddess instead of idols.

Singh said it was time the state government made its stand clear. This year’s community puja count for Jamshedpur is 320, the same as last year. However, sources said, so far orders have been placed with local artisans for only 150 idols.

" We are waiting for government guidelines on the Puja. If it imposes restrictions on pandals and idols we will perform puja using a photograph, " said a member of a Durga Puja committee at Sakchi.

The samiti has announced a number of Covid-related restrictions for pujas such as social distancing and use of face masks.

The festive mood is, however, missing among people of the steel city although a couple of companies, including Tata Steel, have already declared their annual bonus, a welcome announcement at this time of the year.

There is no rush at markets too. Puja shopping, a big part of the celebrations, is yet to pick up.