Karnataka Permits Muted Public Celebrations Of Ganesh Chaturthi With Covid Curbs

Karnataka has permitted the public celebration of the Ganesha festival this year but with several restrictions.

Coronavirus has changed the way we live, work and celebrate festivals. And while Karnataka has permitted the public celebration of the Ganesha festival - it is quite muted. Encouraged by relatively low new daily Covid case numbers - hovering around a thousand per day compared to over 50,000 at the peak of the second wave in April-May - and a positivity rate below 2% in most districts, Karnataka has permitted the public celebration of the Ganesha festival this year. However, with experts warning of an impending third wave of Coronavirus, the state has also imposed several restrictions. "It is less crowded. And there are not many people to celebrate. It is much more fun when there are more people,' Samaa, a young girl told NDTV as people continue to embrace the new normal. In Bengaluru, which earlier had Ganpati celebrations on many streets, there is now just one public pandal in every ward.