RELIGIOUS LEADERS APPEAL FOR RESTRAINT IN FESTIVE SEASON

Religious leaders came together on Thursday to urge everyone to practice restraint due to Covid pandemic and celebrate festivals at home with family this year.

In a webinar organized by the UNICEF, leaders from different faiths across Uttar Pradesh appealed jointly to the masses to follow all precautions to check the spread of Covid -19 this festival season.Acharya Munna Shri Mali from Ma Lalita Devi temple, Naimisharanya said, “Celebrate Navratri in a different way this year. Order clothes, puja material and other requirements online and refrain from going to the market.”

Mahant Devyagiri from Mankameshwar Math said, “We worship girls as deities during Navratri but don’t respect them otherwise. This Navratri, let us pledge to respect girls.”

Tek Narayan Upadhyay from Kashi Vishwanath temple Varanasi said, “For Kanya poojan during Navratri, make separate packets of raw grains and donate to girls whose parents have lost their jobs during Covid -19 or who are orphans.”

Father Varghese Kunnath from Agra also echoed the same sentiment. He said “Become a Santa for those who have lost their jobs during these corona times and are in financial crisis. Do not indulge in any grand celebrations this Christmas.”

Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, Shahi Imam, Aishbagh Eidgah, urged people to celebrate Barawafat at home this year. He said, “Please offer namaz at home and follow all safety measures for Covid prevention. Take special care of elderly, children, pregnant women and ill people in the family.”

Acknowledging the contributions of the clerics, Ruth Leano, chief of field office, UNICEF, Uttar Pradesh said, “Faith leaders have always played a key role in breaking myths and spreading the right message among communities. We hope that this appeal by faith leaders too would have an impact on people.”

ACS, health and family welfare, Amit Mohan Prasad said, “We hope that the appeal by faith leaders would motivate people to stay indoors.”