No mass at Delhi churches, mosques to take a call soon

NEWDELHI: While congregational prayers have been suspended in Delhi churches till March 31 in wake of the coronavirus pandemic, leaders at city mosques said they are looking at ways to enforce the government order of limiting gatherings to 20 people.

The Delhi government on Thursday issued a fresh order allowing only 20 people to gather at a public place at any given time. Earlier, it was up to 50.

The Archbishop of Delhi Anil Joseph Thomas Couto announced dispensing of holy mass and other services in a tweet on Thursday.

He also urged people to offer their prayers at home. “In keeping with the instructions of our Government regarding COVID-19, I am suspending all Masses & Public Devotions in our Churches till March 31, 2020... Request: 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Mary’s, 1Glory Be & the Creed to be recited in every family daily for God’s protection to all,” he tweeted.

At Walled City’s Jama Masjid, where usually more than 10,000 people congregate for the Friday prayers and at least 2000 during daily prayers, the authorities are considering issuing a fatwa (a formal ruling given by an Islamic religious leader) to limit the number of people.

“We are planning a meeting of clerics to issue a fatwa to this effect. We have asked all mosques to make announcements asking people to offer prayers at the nearest masjid or at home,” said Syed Shaban Bukhari, vice-shahi Imam, Jama Masjid. 9,105 7,783 2,642