West Bengal has granted restricted access to the shrines. (Representative)
Kolkata:
Only a handful of worshipers were seen lining up outside important places of worship in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal on Monday, even as Mamata Banerjee’s government granted permission to restrict access to the shrines.
However, several temples and mosques have sought more time to open their doors because they have made security arrangements to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
No more than 10 worshipers were allowed to line up at a time at the entrance to Thanthania Kalibari in northern Calcutta, one of the city’s oldest temples, said his spokesman.
The priests of the sanctuary partially opened the doors for the devotees to offer prayers, while flowers and “prasad” were distributed to them through the openings of the folding doors.
“All the faithful had to wash their hands and wear masks before handing over their offerings to the priests. Shops selling flowers and incense sticks had to spray disinfectants on the baskets before selling them.
“From now on, people will have to offer prayers to the deity from a distance. No one will be allowed near the sanctum sanctorum,” the spokesman said.
At the headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Mayapur, an official said that the safety of ordinary people was “of paramount importance” and that arrangements were being made to procure sufficient thermal scanners. .
“We are planning to open the Chandrodaya temple and are in the process of obtaining screening equipment. However, we have been unable to reach a specific date for the reopening of the temple,” the official told PTI.
Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, a member of the Behala Gurdwara committee, said that more than 100 people gathered near the shrine shortly after the doors opened.
“All the faithful were checked with heat guns. Our volunteers made sure that people kept their distance from each other. Visitors were allowed to enter the gurdwara in stages,” said M Ahluwalia, who is also a prominent member of the city’s Sikh community. , said.
Wearing masks, some visitors were seen entering the city’s churches during the day.
“There was no service in the churches today, but the faithful visited the prayer hall, which opened after about two months. Security at the doors gently asked them to disinfect their hands before entering the church. Those who came without masks were turned back, “Father Dominic Gomes of the Archdiocese of Kolkata said.
The president of the Association of Bengal imams, Md Yahia, said that he had no information about a mosque opening its doors.
The association has up to 26,000 mosque committees under its umbrella.
The imams had previously sought clarification and directions from the government when it was notified last week, which said that a maximum of ten worshipers would be allowed in any place of worship at a time.
Small crowds were also seen on Monday outside the Shyambazar Kali temple, Konnagar Bisalakshi Ma Mandir, Bolpur Kankalitala and the Ekteswar Shiva temple in Bankura.
However, some notable temples such as those of Dakshineswar, Kalighat, Tarapith and Belur Math remained outside the boundaries as authorities sought more time there to make the necessary arrangements, in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines established by the government.
Kalyan Karmakar, spokesman for the Kalighat temple committee, said: “Washing your hands before entering the temple was not enough.”
“We have to install disinfectant dispensers in several places before opening the temple,” he added.
