No entry of devotees to Ram Janmabhoomi campus on Navami

LUCKNOW : In the wake of spike in Covid cases, Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust on Monday decided to close entry of all devotees, both locals and outsiders, to Ram Janmabhoomi campus on the occasion of Ram Navami on April 21.

“Entry of all devotees, be they locals or outsiders, will be prohibited at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya on the festive occasion of Ram Navami in view of increasing cases of Covid-19,” said Champat Rai, the trust’s general secretary.

“This decision has been taken in larger interest of devotees to keep them safe and healthy. The trust has issued an appeal to devotees to remain indoors and follow all instructions of the state government,” Rai added.

Mahant Dhinendra Das, a member of the trust, has also urged people to celebrate Ram Navami with their family members at home.

Entry of outsiders restricted, -ve Covid report mandatory

Other temples across Ayodhya city have also decided to prohibit entry of all outsiders on Ram Navami which marks the conclusion of the Navratri festival that started on April 13.

On the request of the district administration, temple committees in Ayodhya have decided to ban entry of all outsiders in their respective temples. The Ayodhya administration has also decided to keep a check on all outsiders reaching Ayodhya at all entry points of the city.

The administration will also check Covid report of those coming from outside. Negative reports of only last 48 hours will be accepted.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has already cancelled 84-kosi parikrama which was scheduled to start from April 27. In this annual event, large number of seers and devotees from across the country take part. The parikrama is taken out by the VHP every year after Chaitra Navratri under the banner of Hanuman Mandal, Ayodhya.

The Navratri Mela scheduled from April 21, when Navratri will end, is a major event in Ayodhya in which lakhs of people from adjoining areas come to Ayodhya. In Navratri last year (March 25 to April 2), the temple was closed due to nationwide lockdown and devotees could not worship the deity during nine-day festive occasion.