Amid lockdown, devotees invoke ‘Maa’ from home this Navratri
LUCKNOW/PRAYAGRAJ/VARANASI/ MEERUT/AGRA: Devotees across the state performed prayers and other rituals associated with the first day of Navratra puja from within the confines of their homes, owing to the lockdown due to COVID-19, on Wednesday.
With almost all prominent temples shut for visitors, only those residing near temples were seen paying obeisance from a distance and returning to home.
The usual flower and floral garland selling kiosks to those selling puja items were nowhere to be seen around temples in different cities as people accepted the fact that Navratri celebrations would be a toned-down affair this time.
“I performed the puja and observed a fast as I always do. However, I did not visit any temple due to lockdown. I plan to observe the best Navratra possible well within my home this time,” said Sudha Pandey, a resident of Civil Lines in Prayagraj.
In Lucknow, temples of Maa Kali in Chowk, Ghasiyari Mandi, Maa Chandrika Devi temples in Bakshi Ka Talab wore a deserted look. The priests of these temples offered puja without devotees in their compound.
“Because of lockdown we have decided to celebrate Navratri at our home with whatever we have. God knows all and will accept our prayers,” said Alok Sawhney, a resident of Lucknow’s Alambagh area. “Navratri bring good luck to everyone. We will pray to Goddess to end the coronavirus menace and ensure the well-being of every Indian,” said Shobha Mishra head of department history in Navyug Girls Post Graduate
College, Lucknow.
“We sat at a distance of one meter and then recited religious texts to observe Navratra,” said Mohan Singh Chahar of Agra.
Agra-based astrologer Dr Arbind Mishr said: “The initiation of Navratra brings change in the season and according to Hindu calendar today was the first day of the New Year. We would observe ‘Ramnavmi’ (birth anniversary of lord Ram) on the last day on April 2.”
Programme of ‘jagrans’, ‘Mata ki chowkis’, ‘kirtans’ and ‘Maha Artis’ at Shaktipeeths have also been cancelled. Shrimahant Yamunapuriji of Shri Panchayati Akhada Mahanirwani informed that at the only Shaktipeeth of Prayagraj, the Alopi Devi temple, the devotees will have to pay obeisance to the Goddess from distance. “No devotee will be allowed inside the temple’s sanctum sanctorum this time during the entire duration of Navratri. The priests will perform all rituals as usual but in light of coronavirus scare, the devotees will have to offer prayers from a distance and move on,” he added.
Management committee of the popular Siddhpeeth Lalita Devi temple in Prayagraj had held a meeting on March 20 and decided not to go for the elaborate lighting and decoration that takes place in the temple during the festival of Navratri every year.
General secretary of the temple management committee Dhiraj Nagar confirmed these decisions. Pt Sushil Pathak, priest of another popular temple of the Goddess, Kalyani Devi Temple said that the temple was kept close all through the day.
Anil Giri, priest of Meerut’s Mansha Devi temple said, “I have been here for 30 years and it is for the first time that the temple is closed during Navratri. People used to start gathering here as early as 4 am but this year we didn’t allowed entry to anyone.”
Lucknow’s district magistrate Abhishek Prakash said: “We have received full cooperation from the temple managements. They have understood the importance of restrictions on movement of commoners during the
lockdown. This is an unprecedented situation and people have supported us by celebrating an important festival like Navratri from their homes.”
FAIR CANCELLED
A fair dedicated to Goddess Durga that was to be organised at Yashwantari temple during Chaitra Navratri was cancelled by district authorities in wake of lockdown. Over 4 lakh devotees from across UP and Uttarakhand visit the Yashwantari temple during Navratri to offer prayers to the Goddess. Chief priest of the temple, Mahant Rajesh Bajpayi, said bookings of over 200 stalls were cancelled and the amount was refunded to people concerned.