Puja organisers welcomed the relaxations allowed by the high court on Thursday, saying the news brought cheers as many people fully vaccinated against Covid were keen to participate in the rituals and customs they missed out on last year.
“It’s great news for all of us who want to participate in the puja, perform anjali and see the aarati,” said Kajal Sarkar, of Bosepukur Sitalamandir.
“However, selecting the people who will take part in rituals and customs from the huge number of fully vaccinated applicants will pose a challenge. Not everyone can be allowed in because there is a cap on the number of people who can enter pandals.”
Late in the evening, several puja committees across north and south Kolkata convened a meeting to discuss ways to draw up a list of eligible people.
“From Friday, we will move around in an autorickshaw making announcements about the new court order and how it may not be possible to accommodate all fully vaccinated people,” said Sandipan Banerjee, of Behala Natun Dal.
Puja organisers from some pockets of Kolkata where the number of fully vaccinated residents is very high said it would be tiring for the committee members to draw up a list every day and send it to the local police stations.
The secretaries of some organising committees said they might have to disappear from their neighbourhoods to avoid the hassle of explaining to the people left out despite being fully vaccinated against Covid.
“We will have to explain with utmost care and respect to our members that everyone who has got both doses can’t be allowed to participate in the rituals and customs. Since most of these people are residents of our neighbourhood, we hope they will understand our predicament,” said Saswata Basu, of Hatibagan Sarbojonin Durgostav Committee.
Many organisers said the relaxation was fine but the real celebration of Durgotsav would be when visitors were allowed to enter the pandals.
“What is Puja if visitors don’t get to enter a pandal, appreciate the artwork and click some selfies,” said Partho Ghosh, of Shibmandir Durgostav Committee.