Influx of devotees expected for prayer
WITH the lockdown regulations being eased, the Shri Mariammen Temple in Mount Edgecombe is expecting an influx of devotees for their upcoming prayers.
Seelan Achary, the chairperson of the temple, said since the beginning of the pandemic in South Africa in 2020 there had been a drop in the number of devotees attending prayers.
“Every year over the Easter weekend we host the Amman prayer and the Easter Fair. In 2020, the prayer and fair were cancelled because of the pandemic. In 2021 we only held the prayer.”
Achary said despite the Covid-19 restrictions being eased, the temple would maintain some of its safety protocols.
“We don’t have a congregation setup. At the temple, devotees line up at various prayer spots to perform their prayers.”
Achary said the pandemic had impacted the temple financially.
“Throughout the two years, we still had to maintain the temple and pay for water and electricity. Now we have the added cost of purchasing sanitisers and deep cleaning the temple. This is done every two weeks.”
He said Covid-19 had also led to an
increase in criminal activity.
“Many people have lost their jobs, and due to unemployment, some resort to stealing. The copper pipes at the temple were stolen and this was costly to repair.”
Achary said the temple would host a Shivaratri prayer in March.
“While we have families praying at the temple throughout the week, the Shivaratri prayer is our first big prayer for the year.”