Places of worship reopen in Maharashtra with strict Covid-19 protocols in place

Religious locations throughout Maharashtra reopened on Monday after practically eight months of closure as a result of lockdown imposed in a bid to regulate the coronavirus illness (Covid-19) pandemic.

The announcement to reopen spiritual locations in Maharashtra was made by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) on Saturday.

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The distinguished spiritual locations within the state embody Sai Baba temple in Shirdi, the Mahim Dargah and Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai and the Dagdusheth Halwai Temple in Pune.

The gates of the locations of worship had been opened after midnight for the administration officers to scrub and sanitise the premises forward of its reopening for devotees to supply early morning prayers.

“People have been waiting for over eight months. Government SOP and internal SOP of the dargah will be followed. We have put up boards with government and Dargah SOPs. Only those with face masks will be allowed inside the premises and their temperature will be recorded before entry,” Mahim Dargah trustee Suhail Y Khandwani stated.

“I feel fortunate that I visited the temple in the new year, after Diwali. I’m very happy. All Covid-19 precautionary measures are being taken here,” a devotee who visited the Siddhivinayak temple advised information company ANI.

As per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) laid down by the Maharashtra authorities, spiritual locations situated within the containment zones haven’t been allowed to open. Only asymptomatic individuals shall be allowed inside locations of worship, and so they should enter in a staggered method.

Wearing a face masks is obligatory and the guests are required to strictly comply with the social distancing norms. The state authorities has additionally requested the administration of those locations to conduct thermal scanning and supply guests with hand wash facility or sanitiser.

Touching statues, holy books and idols is prohibited underneath the rules. Also, solely recorded devotional music shall be performed. Choir or singing teams are usually not allowed.

These SOPs have additionally empowered the native authorities so as to add instructions to test the unfold of the an infection. Accordingly, the administration of the Sai Baba temple in Shirdi stated it should solely enable guests contained in the premises after a web-based reserving for a selected time slot.

“We have made arrangements to control the crowd at the temple. People will be allotted time slots online for visit. Only 6,000 people will be allowed to enter the temple in a day. The temple will only remain open for 14 hours,” a consultant of the temple added.

Religious locations throughout Maharashtra have remained shut since March this yr, when the central authorities imposed a whole lockdown to regulate the unfold of Covid-19 pandemic.