Religious festivals in India adapt to pandemic ‘new normal’ as followers and businesses miss out on celebrations
- The coronavirus pandemic has seen public festival celebrations cancelled that would normally attract thousands of devotees and lift local economies
- Instead, people are celebrating in their homes, some ceremonies being live-streamed on Zoom, Facebook, and other social media platforms
The Ganesh Chaturthi festival is usually marked with much gaiety across India and is a community affair.
Huge idols of the much-loved, elephant-headed Hindu god, Ganesh, are installed in opulently decorated pandals, or tents, that vie with each other for attention as devotees flock to offer prayers and distribute special sweets.
The faithful don new clothes and, over 10 days, visit friends and relatives as well as a number of pandals across their home city. The revelry ends with the idols being immersed in water – the sea, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds or wells.
Things were different this year, though, as the coronavirus pandemic and a stringent lockdown derailed life across India. Public Ganesh Chaturthi festivities, which should have culminated on September 1, were cancelled as people celebrated in their homes.
Many organisers cancelled their shows and the few who did set up pandals complied with strict coronavirus guidelines.