GUIDELINES ISSUED FOR CHAR DHAM SHRINES IN UTTARAKHAND

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand government on Tuesday issued the standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding the Char Dham shrines in the state.

According to the SOPs, the four Char Dham shrines - Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri - would be opened only for symbolic puja. After opening of the shrines, everyday portals of the shrines would open from 7 am to 7 pm according to the tradition.

“Only the priests and related traditional right holders would be allowed inside the shrines for daily puja, while following all the Covid-19 guidelines like wearing mask, maintaining social distance and thermal screening,” the government order stated.

Those showing any kind of Covid-19 symptoms won’t be allowed inside the temples. Also, only the priests would be allowed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temples and nobody else, with a prohibition of prasad and putting of vermilion on the foreheads. Touching of idols, bells or any kind of religious literature kept inside the temple was also prohibited.

“During the distribution of bhog (ritualistic food offering), proper social distancing would be maintained. The temple office-bearers should also ensure proper sanitisation of the temple premises, while avoiding use of the carpet, sheet and mats for more days,” the order stated.

The SOPs have been issued after the state government, through an order issued on April 29, postponed the Char Dham Yatra this year citing the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The yatra was scheduled to start on May 14.