Yogi bans DJs, new traditions during Puja, Muharram

The Uttar Pradesh government has banned DJs during Durga Puja processions and directed that loudspeakers be used as per rules set by the districts’ administration across the state.

In its new set of norms for Muharram and Dussehra and Durga Puja that are about a fortnight away, the state government has said the height of Durga idols and tazias will be fixed by the administration to ensure that no tree was cut, or structure demolished, on the route of the respective processions. Notable, the state government had permitted playing of DJs during the ‘kanwar yatra’ in July-August.

Aware that maintaining law and order during Dussehra, Durga Puja and Muharram, falling on September 30 and October 1, will be an acid taste for the state government, particularly in the communally sensitive west and east Uttar Pradesh, chief minister Yogi Adityanath reviewed law and order in a meeting with senior officers on Saturday evening. He directed them to remain alert for the occasions.

Usually principal secretary, home and DGP give instructions to the district administration officers through video conferencing before major events or festivities, but this time Yogi gave the instructions to officers himself. During the about hourlong video conferencing, the chief minister collected feedback from officers of Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Allahabad, Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Meerut and Bareilly ranges.

There was a clear order to the officers -- do not permit any new traditions during Durga Puja or Muharram.

THE HEIGHT OF DURGA IDOLS AND TAZIAS WILL BE FIXED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENSURE THAT NO TREE WAS CUT OR STRUCTURE DEMOLISHED ON ROUTE

Several clashes between the two communities had erupted over taking out processions on new routes.

“The route of the processions should be fixed by the administration and organizers should be informed as well,” he said.

Rather than immersing idols in rivers, people should be motivated to immerse them in ponds to protect the rivers from pollution, he said.

He also ordered a crackdown on anti-social elements to check eve teasing and harassment of women during Ram Leela programmes or near puja pandals or fairs organized on the occasion. “Intelligence units should provide regular feedback to the administration over law and order,” he said.

Besides making adequate security arrangement, the officers were told to hold meetings of peace committees at police stations by September 21. He asked district magistrates and superintendents of police to maintain cleanliness as well as security at spots where puja pandals and tazias have been installed.

Adequate police force should be deployed on procession routes and officers should hold meetings with organizers before start of the processions, he told the officers.

Five-member committees should be constituted for tazia and Durga Puja processions. The committee members should be told to coordinate with police during the programmes, Yogi said.