The festivities during Navratri, Dussehra, and Diwali won’t be the same in Maharashtra this year as the state government has banned all Garba events, Dandiya and Ramleela performance in public places due to the raging Covid-19 pandemic.
Days after the state government issued fresh lockdown relaxations guidelines, the BJP MLA Ram Kadam wrote to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerey requesting him to allow Ramleela associations to hold shows during Navratri and Dussehra in Maharashtra.
“As theatres and multiplexes are closed in the state, people need Ramleela performances to watch. All the religious places are closed in the state so the government should allow Ram Leela”, said Kadam.
Earlier BJP held a statewide demonstration against the reopening of temples.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Pratap Sarnaik said, “the government has started metro services and allowed shopping malls to operate, but we cannot allow Ramleela performances as the Covid-19 cases are increasing day by day.”
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has allowed the Devi Puja in pandals with strict guidelines where devotees will not touch the Devi idol. Social distancing will be maintained. Everyone in the pandal should wear a mask and not more than 10 people will be allowed for aarti.