Traditional boat rides on the Ichhamati river for the immersion of idols of goddess Durga will not be held this year on Dashami with the Taki civic administration on Thursday banning such events because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The civic administration after a meeting with police and district administration on Wednesday directed Durga Puja organisers to immerse the idols in the river at two designated ghats where only 10 persons will be allowed to enter to complete the ritual. The Taki municipality authorities made it clear to the puja organisers that no boat would be allowed to sail with the deities on the Ichhamati for immersion on Dashami. The authorities also said that boats would not be allowed to take people on joy rides.

The administrator of the civic board and its former vice-chairman Azizul Gazi said: “The Covid situation is yet to be brought under control. Calcutta High Court has declared puja pandals as no-entry zones to avoid the gatherings. We have also decided to take similar precautions by placing a ban on any assembly on the bank of the river during the traditional immersion. People will not be allowed to enjoy a boat ride on the river.”

On the Dashami, a few thousand people on either side of the river gather to witness the spectacular immersion of Durga idols while many people hire boats to enjoy a ride on the river on the occasion.

On the Indian side, the deities are immersed in Taki, while the deities from Bangladesh are immersed across the river in Satkhira.

While idols are immersed in the river, the custodians of the border of the two countries — BSF and BGB — patrol on speed boats through the middle of the river to create a line of control with ropes so that no boat from either side could sneak into other’s territory.

“We are aware that many people eagerly wait for Dashami to experience the spectacular immersion in the Ichhamati. But this year we are going through an unusual situation due to the pandemic. We cannot put people’s lives at risk by allowing such a huge gathering of a few thousand people,” Gazi said.

“We had suspended public celebration of Eid for the same reason. We have spoken to Durga Puja organisers, the police, and officials of the district administration before we decided to ban the boat ride for immersion in the Ichhamati,” he added.

An officer of Basirhat police district said: “Puja organisers have been discouraged to take the deities to the river. In case they bring it there, we have told them to immerse it at the designated ghats.”