With the daily coronavirus cases in Puducherry increasing at an exponenetial rate, Pongal, the harvest festival, had to be conducted as low-key affair.
Though there was no ban on the people to celebrate the festival, they virtually remained indoors. The festival was celebrated at home and people turned up only at markets and other centres to purchase festival-related commodities. Normally, there would be a flow of people from outside on the occasion of the festival. But today, there was no flow, even vehicles were absent.
The government had appealed to the people to adhere to safety protocols and celebrate the festival with caution. Residents did not visit their kith and kin and chose to convey the greetings over mobile phones or by sending messages.
However, temples in most parts of the town to seek the blessings of the divine power on the festival were teeming with devotees.
( With PTI Inputs)
