Page 14 - The Indian EYE 010121

EYE on INDIA JANUARY 01, 2021 | The Indian Eye 14

INDIATALKS

2020: a year of balance between

hope & despair

the year was a challenge. this year, people learnt to live by a new culture of wearing masks.

we were all stalked by the fear of virus. but there were moments of hope too. we look at some

aspects of life in the most difficult year of our life-time

muted festIvaLs

o prevent the spread of thi which was celebrated on Au-
Covid-19, the govern- gust 22 this year. In Maharash-
Tment ordered a 21-day tra, where the highest cases of
nationwide lockdown on March the virus were detected, the state
24, 2020. The next major festi- government restricted the height
val was ‘Ramazan’ that was ob- of idols and limited visits to pan-
served in the month of May this dals. In the month of October,
year. At that time, the nation was the Indian Council of Medical
witnessing the fourth phase of Research pointed out that any
lockdown which was further ex- negligence in the coming festival
tended by the National Disaster like the ‘Durga Pooja’ could lead
Management Authority, till May to re-spread of the infection.
31. In the month of November,
As the nationwide lockdown a muted ‘Diwali’ was celebrated
was lifted and the government this year. With restrictions on
started ‘Unlocking’ at various mass gatherings, a ban on selling
zones, the next major festival that and bursting of firecrackers was
was observed in the month of imposed.
August was ‘Raksha Bandhan’. Few temples observed heavy
But celebrations of the occasion rush though the people were
A girl child walks on the tight rope at Kolkata Maidan on the first that celebrates the brother-sister seen observing social distancing.
day of the year 2021 in Kolkata on Friday. (ANI) bond remained muted this year. Sanitization process took place
People preferred to stay at regularly for devotees at temples.
home and made homemade On November 30 ‘Gurupur-
Low-key new year CeLebratIons sweets to avoid hopping in the ab’ the major day celebrated to
markets. Few people also cele- mark the birth of the first Sikh
eople across India bid family members. brated the festival with the front- Guru ‘Guru Nanak Dev’ was ob-
adieu to 2020 and wel- In Kerala, very few people line warriors, including medical served. By this time, India report-
Pcomed the New Year turned up to celebrate the New staffs and police officers to ex- ed a low number of active cases
2021 with muted celebrations as Year at Fort Kochi, as compared tend their gratefulness for their and the rise in the recovery rate.
night curfew has been imposed to other years. In Kolkata, West services. However, being cautious social
in the national capital till Jan- Bengal police distributed masks Krishna Janmashtami, the distancing, wearing of masks and
uary 2 amid pandemic. No cel- to people who were not wearing festival that witnesses a mass sanitization was strictly abided
ebratory events, congregations masks as they turned up at Park number of devotees visiting by the management of religious
and gatherings at public places Street for celebrations. temples to offer their prayers places.
were permitted and section 144 People visit the Harmandir was observed on August 12 this The last major festival of the
have been imposed in Bengalu- Sahib (Golden Temple) in Pun- year. This festival took a virtual year 2020, Christmas, was also a
ru, Mumbai and Pune. But de- jab’s Amritsar to welcome the route this year. The religious or- much-curtailed affair. Although
spite the restrictions, people still New Year. ganization- International Society there was a decline in the num-
found a way to make the best of In Goa, tourists and locals for Krishna Consciousness (IS- ber of active cases, for self-safety,
the situation and brought in the celebrated the incoming of New KON) temples live-streamed the those who used to visit the mid-
New Year by staying indoors Year with beautiful fireworks in celebrations. night mass at church preferred
and celebrating among close the state’s capital Panjim. Thereafter, Ganesh Chatur- to do the same at home.

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