Temples take measures to restrict crowds
LUCKNOW: Restrictions have been imposed and preventive measures taken at several temples to check spread of the COVID 19 in the state capital. However, regular rituals would be performed as per the schedules.
A number of bookings for Ram Katha, Hanuman Chalisa path and Sundarkand path, besides regular bhajans and ‘aartis’ have been cancelled as part of precautionary measure aimed at containing the viral infection.
Ram Katha by Pandit Umashankar Vyas, which was supposed to start at historic Hanuman Temple in Aliganj on Tuesday, has been called off due to coronavirus threat. “We are worried about the threat of coronavirus that’s why the Ram Katha, in which about 1000 people were expected to participate, has been postponed. We are committed to follow the government orders and have stopped gathering at public places. However, all the puja and religious activities would be performed as per the schedule,” said Rakesh Dixit, managing the affairs of Aliganj Hanuman temple.
A number of Sundar Kand bookings at Hanuman Setu temple have been cancelled by the temple management. “However, those were permitted Sunderkand path, have been strictly asked to come with only five people,” one of the management members, Chandrakant said.
“We have also placed sanitisers at every flower shop outside the temple and priests have been directed to wash their hands with sanitisers after offering prasaad to devotees,” he said.
He said, “The usual programme of bhajans on Sunday has been cancelled and those who want to perform Sunderkand path have been asked to come with just five people and sit away from each other in the temple’s hall.”
Meanwhile, footfall of devotees at Mankameshwar temple dropped on Monday. “The number of people, visiting the temple, has reduced, but we have placed sanitisers at flower shops outside the temple premises. Not only this, every one is being asked to wash his hands before entering the temple,” said Mahant Divya Giri, priest of the temple.
At Koneshwar temple, five taps have been installed for washing hands and temple management has arranged soaps so that people can clean their hands before entering the temple.
In Mahakal temple at Rajendra Nagar, a special Rudrabhishek was held in which participants were allowed only after cleaning their hands and feet.
The temple management also persuaded the prasaad stall managers to arrange sanitisers and maintain cleanliness around the temple.
However, no temple has a plan to close down the gates till the time corona threat is negated. “We don’t have any plan to shut down temple, but have plans to control the crowd by stopping them at the prasaad stalls and motivating them to come later if the crowd increases inside the premises,” said priest of Hanuman Setu temple.