Bihu celebrations in pandemic shadow

The fresh wave of COVID-19 has dampened the spirit of Rongali Bihu for the second consecutive year. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) issued by the State government for Bihu cultural evenings requires the Bihu committees to take prior permission and wind up the cultural programmes by 11 pm on the festival nights. Assam could not celebrate Rongali Bihu last year due to COVID-19 restrictions. The mood for celebrations this year started building up after the health authorities allayed apprehensions of a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases, especially during the peak of electioneering that witnessed large public gatherings without COVID-safety protocols. Several Bihu committees have objected to enforcement of the SOPs as they saw the restrictions as a transgression on the symbol of Assamese cultural nationalism. Rongali Bihu marks the beginning of a new Assamese calendar year; while the Bihu songs and dances performed to welcome the arrival of Spring portray the rich cultural heritage of the indigenous communities of the State. Cultural evenings organized in Guwahati city and various towns also have economic significance for the Bihu artistes and other cultural performers. Bihu celebrations planned this year have brought a glimmer of hope for the artistes affected by cancellations of Bihu and other cultural programmes on account of COVID-19 last year. A middle path must be found to make Bihu celebration safer for everyone. The Bihu committees also expressed their inability to sanitise the venues twice on the festival days; and urged the government to shoulder the responsibility of sanitisation. Sanitising the public places to prevent the spread of infection is primarily the responsibility of the State government and the local authorities and this responsibility should not be passed on to the Bihu committees. Lessons must be learnt from the prevailing pandemic situation in Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka where the Health systems are already overwhelmed with the exponential rise in infections resulting in the increase in the number of patients needing critical care and also the resultant deaths on account of COVID-19. Assam has not remained immune to the fresh surge in COVID-19 positive cases in the different States. The active caseload has jumped ten times in the State in less than a month's time. Extending the cultural programmes into late hours on the festival nights runs the risk of maintenance of physical-distancing norms a Herculean task for the Bihu committees. For, it may give rise to the perception among the Bihu revellers that the pandemic situation has not worsened in the State and draw them out in large numbers to the venue. However, people have demonstrated during polling for Assam Assembly elections their willingness to accept the new normal of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, if meticulously planned systems are put in place. More than enforcement, creating awareness plays a critical role in the success of public-health interventions. The State government and the local administrations should team up with the Bihu committees to facilitate the people playing responsible roles as equal stakeholders of the public health measures, during the prevailing pandemic situation.

India has already overtaken Brazil to become second-most affected country after the United States of America. The country's active caseload is inching towards 10% of the total infections which indicate the gravity of the situation while the death toll has surpassed 1.71 lakh mark. The Central government has sounded an alert that the previous highest surge has been already crossed in the second wave -- which is a cause for worry. Vaccine shortage has hit the vaccination programmes in most States prompting the Central government to expedite the process of emergency use approval to foreign-made vaccines. The Central government is also urging the States to bring down vaccine wastage, which is to the tune of 8-9 %. While Uttar Pradesh has recorded the highest single-day rise of 18,021 cases as reported on Tuesday morning, lakhs of devotees flouting the COVID-safety protocols in the 'Kumbh Mela' has triggered the apprehension of a deterioration in the pandemic situation. Special awareness drives on COVID-19 vaccination during the Bihu days will help the Health authorities to reach out to a large number of targeted beneficiaries and also motivate all those above 45 years of age to register for vaccination. A COVID-safe Bihu is also in the interest of several lakhs of examinees of final examinations of Classes X and XII to be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Examinations and Board of Secondary Education, Assam, and Assam Higher Secondary Education Council. A deterioration in the pandemic situation may lead to the postponement of the examinations, and cancellations of offline classes -- which will adversely affect the academic careers of these students. It is not the time to find faults. Besides, the challenge posed by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic to cause disruptions in all spheres of life as in the last year must be overcome unitedly. Ensuring every single venue of Bihu celebration to be safe from COVID-19 infections is an onerous responsibility which is required to be shouldered equally by the administration, organisers, and the participants.