No Kumari Puja in city amid pandemic

Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad has announced that there will be no programmes to celebrate Kumari Puja in the Dhaka city due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, reports bdnews24.com.
"The Kumari Puja festivities will not be held at puja marquees in the city considering the coronavirus situation. However, it may take place in other parts of the country," Milon Kanti Dutta, president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad, said on Saturday.
There have been reports of idols being vandalised in 'one or two places', he added.
On August 26, the Puja Udjapon Parishad issued a 26-point directive to hold the puja in line with the government's health protocols. Later, another seven-point order was issued on October 08, following a meeting with the home minister.
The puja will be held in keeping the government's order but without any cultural programmes this year.
The organisers were asked to livestream the rituals of Anjali on Facebook.
The procession on Dashami or the last day of the puja and distribution of prasad (devotional offering of food items) has already been banned.
According to Hindu scripture, Mahalaya, Bodhon and Sandhi Puja are the three components of Durga Puja.
The main Durga Puja celebrations will begin on October 23 this year. It is scheduled to end on October 26.
Organisers have been directed by the government to enforce safety protocols in puja marquees, including social distancing, mask-wearing and hand-sanitising norms.