India News | Vinayaka Chaturthi Celebration Sans Festivity in Pondy

Puducherry, Aug 22 (PTI) Vinayaka Chaturthi festival in Puducherry was a low key affair on Saturday as the current COVID-19 situation coupled with various curbs deprived the celebration of the usual festivity and fervour.

Lt Governor Kiran Bedi and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy made separate appeals to the people to avoid gathering and celebrate the festival at homes so that there would be no room for the pandemic to spread.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi Targets PM Narendra Modi After Report Says CAG ‘Dropped’ Audit of Rafale Offset Deal.

Narayanasamy, wearing a mask turned up at the famous shrine of Manakula Vinayakar early morning tooffer prayers.

The temple priests were seen wearing masks and performing the rituals and maintained social distance.

Also Read | Punjab: Two Suspects Shot Dead by BSF Near India-Pakistan Border in Tarn Taran District.

Director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar in a whats app message to the media said, "there was lot ofovercrowding in various places."

He wanted the public to have awareness of the situation.

The territorial government had already prohibited installation of tall statues of Lord Ganesha at roadsides this year.

The artisans who are adept in making paper umbrellas and other colourful materials were bereft of work this year.

The usual pomp and fervour was missing this year. PTI

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)