With just two weeks to go for Vinayaka Chaviti, the city police convened a meeting with Ganesh pandal organising committees to outline guidelines for idol installation and safety protocols during the festivities.
Commissioner of Police Shankabrata Bagchi urged organisers to prioritise eco-friendly clay idols and instructed police personnel to hold awareness programmes in educational institutions to discourage the use of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols. He directed that each pandal must have at least three volunteers on duty round the clock, with their contact details shared with the local police station.
Organisers were told to ensure proper barricading, lighting, public-address systems, backup generators, orderly queue management, adequate parking facilities, and multiple entry and exit points at procession and immersion sites. No inflammable materials should be stored near pandals, and water and sand must be kept ready at all times as fire safety measures.
Mr. Bagchi stressed that pandals should not inconvenience the public and must be set up on only one side of the road to avoid traffic disruptions. DJ systems are strictly banned at pandals and processions. Organisers must install CCTV cameras with 24×7 recording and monitoring. Forced donations, lucky dips, and lotteries remain prohibited.
Idol immersions are permitted only at officially designated locations, and firecrackers are banned during immersion processions. Loudspeakers and microphones must adhere to prescribed decibel limits and are prohibited between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
As in previous years, the city police will soon launch a dedicated website for pandal organisers to apply for permissions. Meanwhile, idol makers have been working for months to prepare thousands of idols. The district sees an average of 3,000 to 4,000 installations each year, and this time will feature some unique creations — including, for the first time, a Ganesh idol adorned with one lakh sarees at Lanka Grounds in Gajuwaka.
Published – August 10, 2025 06:35 pm IST
