Vadodara celebrates the Dashama festival with great enthusiasm every year. This year also devotees installed the idol of the goddess at home and will immerse it on Wednesday. But, due to the coronavirus pandemic, VMC has banned immersion of Dashama idols inside lakes, ponds, and canals. However, various organizations protested against the notification and demanded a rollback of the order. Today, there were protests outside the VMC office and shouted slogans against the officials. They demanded artificial lakes to be created by the corporation so that the devotees can immerse the idols of Dashama as per COVID19 guidelines. President of Yuvajan Jagruti Manch Central Gujarat Mahila Morcha, Akshita Solanki said that the notification was inappropriate and the corporation is only interested in levying fines. But if a proper decision is not taken then, the idols of Dashama will be placed near the bungalow of Municipal Commissioner on the day of the immersion. Jay Thakor, leader of Yuva Sang

Author-Shlok Talati