The Ramnavami festival passed without any much fanfare on Thursday amidst novel coronavirus scare.
For the first time in 282 years history of Ramnavami celebration in State Capital, the doors of historic Tapovan temple were not opened for common people. The Tapovan Mandir Trust Committee had decided to cancel the Ramnavami celebration for common people at the temple due to Coronavirus scare.
After a Malaysian woman was tested positive with Coronavirus on Tuesday the district administration acting much seriously and taking precautionary measures avoided large gathering of people at a place. Tapovan Mandir Trust Committee media incharge Amit Bajaj said, "This year we decided not to open the gates of temple for common people due to Coronavirus scare and in this connection a notice was pasted at temple entrance gate.”
Bajaj, however said that despite this since morning people started gathering at temple entrance gate for performing puja. But, on the instruction of committee member most of the devotees returned.
Apart from this the much popular Ramnavami procession taken out by Mahavir Mandal was cancelled in State Capital this year. Mahavir Mandal president Jai Singh Yadav said, “This year we had decided not to take out Ramnavami procession due to Coronavirus scare. We had advised all the akharas to celebrate the festival in low key affair."
The first Ramnavami procession was taken out in 1929 from old Hanuman temple at Mahavir chowk to Tapovan temple and since then every year believers used to take out procession. Later procession was taken out from Ratu, Itki, Kanke, Bariatu and other parts of State Capital.
The devotees from different parts of state capital reach Tapovan temple carrying colurful flags in huge bamboo sticks. Display of swords and other weapons add colour to Ramnavami procession.
Despite Tapovan temple trust committee not opening the temple doors for common people and Mahavir Mandal calling off Ram Navami procession most of the believers performed the pooja at thier home.
Ganesh Gupta a resident of Upper Bazar area said, "As there is complete lockdown in country due to Coronavirus scare. Many people like us performed the pooja at home."
Gupta said in morning few temples were opened but as crowd started gathering the police urged the temple authorities to close down the temple on larger interest of people.
Meanwhile Governor Droupadi Murmu, Chief Minister Hemant Soren and others have wished the people on the occasion of Ramnavami.