Durga Puja celebrations in India set to be low-key amid COVID-19

Artists decorate an idol of Goddess Durga at a community pandal ahead of Durga Puja festival, in Kolkata. Keeping in mind the risks of COVID-19, big-budget Durga Puja committees in Kolkata have decided not to celebrate the festival grandly. Durga Puja is a nine-day Indian Hindu festival celebrated in worship of Goddess Durga, the epitome of divine strength or ‘shakthi’. The festival is celebrated differently across the country based on various versions of the story and depending on the inherent beliefs of the people in that region.

A carpenter works to construct a community puja pandal ahead of Durga Puja festival, in Kolkata. The West Bengal government has laid down necessary COVID-19 safety protocols which have to be followed by both organisers and visitors. Pandal organisers have been told to set up spacious and open pandals to ensure ventilation.

An artisan works on clay sculptures depicting Hindu goddess Durga at a workshop, ahead of the upcoming 'Durga Puja' festival, in Siliguri. The pandemic has impacted not only the worshippers but also those who depend upon festivities as a source of income.

An artist gives finishing touch to a demon as coronavirus before the Durga Puja celebration at Kumortoli, in Kolkata. Even in the face of the pandemic and financial despair, the artisans are working on various ideas as theme pujas are integral to the festival.

With the festive season on and Durga Puja - the biggest festival in West Bengal, many market places in Kolkata are witnessing a surge in footfall amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Organisers should mark spaces for revellers nearthe pandals in keeping with the physical distancing norms and make separate entry and exit points in them Above, an artist gives a touch to the idol of Goddess Durga.

Migrant workers, who lost their job due to the coronavirus pandemic, decorate an under-constructed community puja pandal ahead of Durga Puja festival, in Kolkata.

An artisan works on clay sculptures depicting a Hindu goddess ahead of the upcoming 'Durga puja' festival in Chennai. The five-day 'Durga Puja' festival, which commemorates the slaying of the demon king Mahishasur by the goddess Durga, marks the triumph of good over evil.

Folk artists perform Mahishasura Mardini on a field, ahead of Durga Puja festival, in Nadia district. Ahead of the festival season, a survey had revealed that about 36 per cent of the Indians might be getting ready to socialise, sparking fear of large-scale Covid-19 spread. The most exciting time of the year for the Indians is just around the corner. October-November, popularly known as the festive months mark the starting of festivals like Navratri, Durga Puja, Dussehra and finally Diwali.

An artist paints a mural of Goddess Durga on a wall, in Nadia district.

People throng a market for shopping ahead of the upcoming Durga Puja festival at New Market area amid coronavirus pandemic, in Kolkata.

The clay faces of the idols of Goddess Durga are being dried, in Kumartuli by baking them in fire before Durga Pooja festival, in Kolkata. Kumartuli houses more than 500 artisans, who are involved in the idol-making business. However, this year has been a financial disaster for them. Kumartuli, which last year received orders for over 4,500 idols, has this year got just 2,200 orders, according to the Kumartuli Mritshilpi Association.