Kathmandu. At a daily press conference on Saturday, The Ministry of Health and Population issued the guidelines for celebrating the festival of Dashain in the aftermath of the viral pandemic. The criteria must be applied at the individual level and in larger gatherings.

At the meeting, the spokesperson of the Ministry, Prof. Dr. Jageshwor Gautam, advised people not to meet anyone outside of the house during the festival. However, in the case of important work, people may wear a mask and come out of the house, as he also urged people not to spit anywhere. The Ministry recommended that individuals who are over 60 and under 12 years of age, who may have fever and cough, those who are pregnant, and who are lactating mothers, along with individuals who have low immunity to not participate in any programs. Others can participate, but by strictly following the health safety standards.

The crowd limit at religious places and programs is set to 25 people. The government, additionally, urged people not to touch any idols of gods in the temple. The people are requested not to hug each other during any events. The conditions also restrict the distribution of ‘Tika’ and ‘Prasads’ (sacrament) during fairs and festivals. The government has encouraged the people to use electronic means as much as possible while transacting money. According to Annapurna Post, people who do not follow the guidelines will be punished in accordance to the Infectious Diseases Act, 2020.