The district administration on Thursday issued a slew of directives as part of its dos and don'ts for Prakash Utsav, the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh.
Bursting firecrackers has been banned near the tent cities at Gandhi Maidan, Bypass and Kangan Ghat, the main shrine (Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib), Bal Leela Gurdwara, Ashok Rajpath and other roads leading to Patna City.
"Huge number of people will be present in the tent cities and the gurdwara. The decision to ban firecrackers in these areas has been taken as part of the safety measures for devotees participating in the event. We will display posters announcing the ban at these places. Moreover, we will ask officials of Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib, who will coordinate the prabhat pheris (morning processions) during Prakash Utsav to ensure that the directive is followed from their side as well and they also do not burst firecrackers while taking out the prabhat pheris," said district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agarwal.
He said station house officers will also be instructed to implement the order.
The district administration has barred operation of private boats on Ganga. "Private boats will not be allowed to operate from Danapur Ghat to Kangan Ghat. The administration, in collaboration with the Inland Waterways Authority of India, will operate steamers to ferry devotees from the ghats. The private boats are all ill-equipped. They don't meet safety guidelines," added Agarwal.
Sources from the district administration said the steamers, which would ferry pilgrims, will start operating on Friday. On Thursday, the administration ran the steamers on a trial basis. Agarwal reviewed the trial.
As a part of its dos, the district administration has asked residents to offer voluntary services for Sikh pilgrims. The administration has asked residents to accommodate Sikh devotees in their homes.
The administration has also asked residents to put up stalls on city roads to give refreshments and other stuff to devotees free.
"We have received applications from a few residents who want to put up stalls on city roads to provide refreshments to the devotees. While Marvari Yuva Manch has sought our permission to set up a free tea stall for devotees, a resident, Sujeet Kumar, is willing to accommodate devotees in his Sipara house. If other residents offer similar services, they can send applications to the officer of sub-divisional officer, Patna City and my (district magistrate) office," added Agarwal.
The administration is also mulling over stopping movement of commercial and private vehicles on the Bypass Road-Patna City stretch for a day or two as part of its crowd management programme for Prakash Utsav.