Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Mar 25: With Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and several other governments having imposed ban on the public, and in some cases even private, celebrations of Holi next week due to the sudden surge in the Coronavirus cases, the festival of colour is certain to lose its shine this year.
Restrictions have been imposed by various states and local administrative bodies following the centre’s advice to the states and union territories to impose restrictions under Section 22 of the Disaster Management Act. The country has been recording over 40,000 cases every day since the last week and experts fear a possible second wave hitting the country.
Maharashtra has been the worst-hit as it continues to register the highest cases in the country. The Mumbai civic authorities have banned public and private celebrations of Holi and Rang Panchami in the city. “All private/public celebration of Holika Dahan & Rang Panchami has been prohibited to ensure Covid-19 doesn’t play a spoilsport. We request Mumbaikars to cooperate. Strict action will be taken against offenders,” the Brihadmumbai Municipal Corporation had tweeted. Similarly the Pune municipal corporation too has banned the festival in the city citing Covid-19 re-surge.
It is not too different for Delhiites as well with the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) announcing that there will be no public celebration of Holi, Shab-e-Barat and Navaratri in parks, religious places, public grounds, markets within the national capital territory. The Delhi government also designated malls, religious places, metros, and movie halls as super-spreaders and asked district magistrates to increase surveillance at these areas.
The Haryana government has also banned Holi celebrations due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country, according to minister Anil Vij.
Similarly, special relief commissioner of Odisha, PK Jena, said the state government has banned Holi celebrations in public places, asking district administrations to remain vigilant as the festival approaches.
Gujarat, which too has been witnessing a spike in cases, has stopped all public celebrations and mass gatherings on Holi, asking people to celebrate it traditionally with limited rituals instead.
Following the examples of several major cities, the union territory of Chandigarh has also ordered cancellation of all Holi related festivities and banned all clubs and restaurants from organizing any celebrations. “The residents must celebrate the Holi festival at home while following appropriate Covid-19 protocol,” the administration announced via an official statement.
Even the Rajasthan government, where like Uttar Pradesh Holi is the biggest annual festival, has refused to take any risk and put a ban on celebration of Holi and Shab-e-Barat in public places.
The UP government has not yet curtailed the festivities but has ordered testing of people arriving home for Holi celebrations from different states witnessing a surge in Covid-19 cases. Tests will be conducted at railway stations, airports, bus depots.
Similarly, the Delhi government, too, has ordered random testing of people arriving at the Indira Gandhi International Airport and railway station.
Even in the states and UTs where Holi so far has not been banned, the festivities is all set to lose much of its sheen and celebrate the annual festival in a subdued manner with caution. Many district administrations, including the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, have asked people above 60 or below 10 years of age, and those having serious illnesses to avoid taking part in celebrations.
Although there is no notification by any state government regarding gatherings inside houses, doctors have said that due diligence is required to stop the spread of the virus.
As per the Section 22 of the Disaster Management Act, the state governments are asked to examine the vulnerability of different parts of the state to different forms of disasters and specify measures to be taken for their prevention or mitigation. The government will also lay down guidelines for preparation of disaster management plans and monitor their implementation. It will also give directions to any department or any other authority regarding actions to be taken in response to any threatening disaster situation or disaster.
