KOLKATA: The Calcutta high court on Wednesday allowed entry of up to 45 people in Puja pandals, easing its previous order declaring the pandals as no-entry zones.
The high court on Monday had ordered that all Durga Puja pandals in the state were to be treated as containment zones and nobody should be allowed inside. No-entry signs will have to be put up outside the pandals and movement of visitors restricted to a certain distance, the court said.
While larger Puja committees will maintain a distance of 10 metres, smaller ones will restrict viewing of idols and interiors from 5 metres for all pandal hoppers. Sixty club representatives can enter the pandal through the day, but only 45 people are allowed at a time.
Dhakis have been allowed inside the no-entry zones maintaining social distancing protocols.
In Kolkata alone, crowds on streets can swell to 5-6 lakh for pandal hopping. The court observed that people should enjoy the Pujas virtually this year due to the pandemic.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/calcutta-high-court-allows-entry-of-up-to-45-people-in-puja-pandals/articleshow/78784170.cms
