The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has said that only five people should participate in arrival and immersion processions

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has said that only five people should participate in arrival and immersion processions of domestic Lord Ganesh idols during the Ganpati festival next month in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The BMC made a special appeal to citizens in this regard ahead of the festival to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the metropolis, which has recorded more than 1 lakh cases and nearly 6,000 deaths so far.

PhotoBesides public installation of Lord Ganesh idols, thousands of people install such idols at home and immerse them on different days during the 10-day festival, the most popular religious event in Maharashtra.

Asking people to follow safety protocols that include use of mask or shield, hand sanitizers and social distancing norms during the festival, the BMC appealed to citizens to avoid participating in big processions to protect their families from Covid-19.

This year, the festival starts from August 22.

Ganesh festival

The civic body said home-installed Ganpati idols should be made using eco-friendly materials and their height should not be more than two feet.

Also, children and elderly persons should not be allowed to visit immersion sites, it said.