Navratra, the nine-night and ten-days Hindu festival in which nine forms of Devi are worshipped, will begin at different temples and pandals of Haryana from Saturday with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) put in place by the authorities due to Covid-19.
A senior official said that in consultation with stakeholders, a day before the festival, all necessary arrangements for holding the Navratra festival in all the temples of the State from Saturday to October 25 have been made for the safety, security and hassle free darshan of devotees keeping in view the pandemic situation and SOPs issued by the State Government and by the Ministry of Home Affairs Government of India in this regard.
Talking to ‘The Pioneer’ over the phone, Panchkula Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mohit Handa said that security and Covid-19 precautionary measures have been made during Navratra and Durga Puja festivals. Devotees will be properly sanitized, their body temperature will be checked and wearing face masks is also compulsory for all. No offering of any kind will be taken in the temple this time due to Covid-19 fear. Children below 10 years and senior citizens above the age of 65 have been advised not to go to the temple, he added.
The DCP said that Police personnel will remain posted on the premises in view of the festival while arrangements for ambulances, fire safety, sanitation, security, medical facilities, water and power supply as well as liaison officers who will make sure protocols are followed, will be available.
He said, “In pursuance of SOPs, adequate arrangements have been made by the temple committee for washing of hands and feet, thermal screening and proper sanitization at Panchkula, Kalka and Chandi Mandir.”
Panchkula Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Ahuja told the Pioneer that devotees will not be allowed to carry prasad, or bow their heads, touch the idol or even touch the ground in an effort to “reduce touch-points. “Adequate arrangements of security, medical facilities, uninterrupted water and power supply, sanitation, protocol and liaison officers etc have been made for the facilitation of the devotees. Control Room (Phone No: 0172-2920988) and Information Centre have also been established in the premises of the Shrine Board, he added.
The deputy commissioner said that the health administration will also set up kiosks to conduct free Covid tests outside the temple itself. No cultural events will be organised. Sanitation and housekeeping services have been outsourced and additional sweepers have been deployed, Ahuja added.
Meanwhile, Mata Mansa Devi Temple Committee has also released dates and SOPs for the Navratra festival. Live feeds on social media as well as broadcast channels will run throughout the span of the Navratras, said the Committee member, adding that to maintain social distancing and to contain further spread of corona, the Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board has already facilitated darshan through online registration with the effect from June 8 and this method has become very successful during this period. During these Navratras also, devotees will have to obtain e-ticket from the website of Board www.mansadevi.org.in
The committee member said that now this facility has been increased from 4500 devotees to 11000 devotees per day. Free Rapid Covid Test of devotees is also being directed before entering the temple. Besides this, another category i.e. Preferential Darshan” has also been introduced this time on a trial basis. For such devotees token with paid darshan @ Rs.50/- per devotee will be issued and they will be allowed preferential darshan from Gate No.3, he said.
The committee member further said that parsaadam scheme is also being introduced for the first time to provide quality prasad of packed dry fruits weighing 100 gram and 200 gram online as well as offline.
The cost of online prasad to be delivered through postal services weighing 100 gram and 200 gram will be Rs 101 and Rs 151 respectively, including postal charges and it will be sent throughout India.
This quality prasad will also be given to the devotees offline in Panchkula, Kalka and Chandi Mandir. The offline prasad of 100 gram and 200 gram will cost Rs 50 and Rs 100 respectively. Desi Ghee Halwa Prasad will also be provided to all devotees free of cost.
The committee member further said that corona Mukti Hawan will also be performed whole day daily and dignitaries will also be invited in the Hawan. Dharamshala booking has also been started online and rooms will be allotted on production of Covid Test Report.
Bhandaras have also been allowed to provide packed cooked prasad to the devotees after darshan on their way back to home. Arrangements have also been made for live darshan through Facebook channel, You-Tube Channel (maa mansa devi) & Application ivms-4500 and live arti for the facilitation of devotees who come to pay Obeisance to the Deity from their home. Besides this, live Aarti is also being telecasted through T.V.Channels, he added.