The traditional Vijaya Dashami boat ride on the river Ichhamati, to bid farewell to Goddess Durga, will be a restricted affair for the second pandemic year in a row.

Taki civic administration has announced that only Durga Puja organisers will be allowed to sail on the river for immersion and that too for a limited time.

The decision was taken in a flag meeting held a few days ago on the Ichhamati, in which officials of the Taki and Satkhira civic authorities, as well as the BSF, BGB (of Bangladesh), and police from India and Bangladesh were present.

Krishnendu Ghosh, the officer in charge of Hansnabad police station, told the media that the decision had been “unanimous”.

“A maximum of eight persons in each boat will be allowed to complete the immersion rites. The entire immersion process will be restricted between 1pm and 4.30pm and no one will be allowed to sail on the river beyond this time,” said Ghosh, adding the same protocol will be followed by Bangladeshi Puja organisers.

Civic authorities have made it clear that no traditional joyrides for visitors on the river will be allowed and any violation of the prohibition would be dealt with strongly.

“Border Guards Bangladesh and Border Security Force personnel will be keeping surveillance from speed boats along the middle of the river and be creating a line of control with ropes so that no boat from either side can sneak into the other’s territory,” said an official.

The administration, in consultation with the BSF and BGB, had imposed similar restrictions last year too.

On the Indian side of the river, the deities are immersed at Taki. Deities from Satkhira in Bangladesh are immersed on the other side of the river bank.

On Vijaya Dashami day before the onset of the pandemic, thousands used gather on either side of the river to witness the spectacular immersion of Durga idols. Many people also used to hire boats to enjoy a ride on the river alongside the deities.

A BSF official, who was present in the meeting, said people would have to view the immersion standing on the river bank and maintaining Covid protocol.

“We have mutually agreed to ensure that Covid protocol is strictly followed in the greater interest of public health owing to the Covid situation,” the BSF official said.

The traditional immersion boat ride on the Ichhamati goes back a few centuries, when it is believed to have been introduced by local zamindar families. “There were at least seven zamindars in undivided Bengal, who introduced the boat ride before the immersion. In the course of time, the villagers under their rule also joined the celebration. The tradition continued even though Bengal got divided thereafter,” said a local resident.