Udupi, Oct 8: Deputy Commissioner G Jagdish has instructed temple administrators and officials to comply with government guidelines to ensure that the virus is not spread during Navratri, Diwali and other festivals.
Speaking on the preparatory meeting of steps to be taken during the forthcoming Navratri festival, Diwali and other festivals in the district temples in his office on October 7, Wednesday .
"Covid-19 infection is spreading day by day. During the festivals devotees should be allowed to participate in the service by strictly adhering to the guidelines laid down by the government, district and local bodies to control the infection."
"The temples have to put up 6-foot-wide box marks to maintain social distance between devotees who come. Every devotee should wear a head covering. Thermal scanning and hand washing or sanitizer systems should be made mandatory. More people to come to the festival during the holidays, in this time the temples should get the help of the police department."
"In Temples, Fairs, special ceremonies such as Bramhotsava and Pavithrotsava are temporarily postponed, and the religious rituals in above said temples, should performed within themselves priests and staff of the temples, public appearance should be avoided."
Senior Citizens age of 65 and above people with multiple illnesses, pregnant women and children under the age of 10 should stay at home, without any need or health concerns.
After the programs around the temples are over, the sanitization should be done at night and the next morning. He advised the public to adopt placards for the public to be aware of the corona and to announce in the loudspeaker regarding the covid law
He said that if the temples were used to perform Annasantharpane in the past, they can keep going and but temples who do not perform this ritual avoid new ones.
He called a meeting of the shop and hotel owners around the temples and instructed them to wear a face mask and to ensure that the public main the safe distance in the hotel premises.
Sub-divisional officers and the Tahsildar Police Department should visit religious places and observe that the government's covid control guidelines are being followed. He advised that action should be taken under the law if rules are not followed.
The meeting was attended by Sadashiva Prabhu, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sudhakar Tahsildar of the District Religious Endowment Department and other officials of the temple.