A day after the Tamil Nadu had issued a ban on celebrating Vinayagar Chathurthi in public places owing to the COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions for the large public gatherings, the TN BJP unit and the Hindu outfit in the state had signaled that they would defy the government's order in prohibiting the Hindu festival. 

On Thursday, the Tamil Nadu government has banned installations and processions of Vinayagar idols and immersion of the idols in the water bodies during the Vinayagar Chathurthi festival and it has advised the people to celebrate at home amid the COVID-19 outbreak and the lockdown.

Vinayagar Chathurthi has been one of the festivals being celebrated across the country every year and the sequence of events would normally see a huge gathering. This year, Vinayagar Chaturthi falls on August 22 and since the lockdown for the public gathering is in place in the state till August 31 due to the virus spread, the state has barred the celebrations at the public places. 

However, the TN BJP unit and the Hindu outfits demanded the government to allow the installation of Vinayaga idols in the public places. Tamil Nadu BJP President Murugan has, on Friday, urged the state government to reconsider its request in prohibiting the Vinayagar Chaturthi celebrations this year. Murugan said the government should allow installations and processions of Vinayagar idols and the public should be allowed to offer prayers by adhering to the social distancing. 

BJP National Secretary H Raja questioned the government's ban on the Vinayagar Chaturthi celebrations while it can operate the TASMAC liquor shops across the state without observing social distancing. Hindu outfit, Hindu Munnani, said that it would disregard the ban imposed by the Tamil Nadu government on Vinayagar Chathurthi and would install Vinayagar idols in 1.5 lakh locations across the state on August 22. 

The outfit said that it would install Vinayagar statues in 1.5 lakh places to reclaim the worshipping rights and it added that it would maintain safety and preventive measures. The president of Hindu Munnani had said that the religious beliefs among people will increase the immunity of people and will-power to fight the pandemic. 

The outfit's leader further stated that the state government has taken an anti-Hindu decision by imposing a ban on the Hindu festival. He maintained that the outfit has been celebrating the festival for the past 36 years and this year, it would celebrate based on the health protocols and regulations issued by the Health Ministry.