Guwahati, Sept.4: The Hailakandi district administration held a meeting with various puja committees for the upcoming Durga Puja amidst the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Chairing a meeting at his office conference hall here on Friday, Deputy Commissioner, Megh Nidhi Dahal urged the puja committees to keep the festivity a low key affair in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Underscoring the need for strictly adhering to COVID-19 protocols, Dahal urged the puja committees to avoid gatherings, maintaining social distancing and wearing masks by devotees. The Deputy Commissioner clearly pointed out that no one should be allowed to enter the puja premises without wearing mask or face cover and suggested that the puja committees either put up stalls of masks near the pandals so that people can buy them or distribute mask free of cost to the devotees.

Stressing on spiritual aspect of the celebration in view of the prevailing situation, Dahal said the puja mandals must be less decorated or illuminated and the deities must be installed at vantage position so that the devotees can pay obeisance from all corners. Dahal asked the puja committees to shun mela in and around the puja mandals to prevent gatherings in view of the COVID-19 outbreak.