Ram Navami and Basanti Durga Puja celebrations will be a low-key affair in the steel city this year.

This decision was taken by Kendriya Ram Navami Samiti in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

“We have asked the licensed akharas to conduct rituals with minimum participation of people,” said Ram Babu Singh, a general secretary of the Kendriya Ram Navami Samiti that organises the festival. “The akharas have been also asked to avoid overcrowding during the immersion procession.”

The kalash sthapana for the Basanti Durga Puja will take place on Wednesday (March 25) while the Maha Ashtami falls on April 1 as per the Hindu calendar.

The Ram Navami immersion procession, which is taken out by the respective akhara committees, is scheduled on April 3.

The steel city witnesses around 170 licensed Ram Navami processions while Basanti Durga Puja is celebrated in 12 places.

A meeting of various akharas of Bistupur took place at the Bistupur police station on Friday. The meeting was presided over by Rajesh Prakash, the Bistupur police station officer-in-charge.

He said hand sanitizers would be provided to the akharas so that the rituals are performed after due sanitizing.

“Cleanliness and hygiene would be top priority during the rituals,” said Prakash.