The Siddhivinayak temple, which is thronged by thousands of devotees and celebrities all throughout the year, is now going to bear a deserted look. After shutting down schools, malls, gyms, pools and cinema halls all over the country, following Government orders, the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust authorities have now decided to shut the temple indefinitely amidst rising concerns of the coronavirus.
Why Has Siddhivinayak Temple Shut Its Doors To Devotees?
Informing the public about this move, Chairman of Siddhivinayak Temple Trust Aadesh Bandekar said, “Keeping in view the current coronavirus situation, authorities have decided to shut the temple to avoid large gatherings.” This move comes swiftly after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerey asked all district collectors to ensure there is no crowding at religious sites.
While the temple Ganesha-dedicated temple at Prabhadevi was earlier taking precautions and had instructed all its employees to wear masks and use the provided hand sanitizers, the temple has now been shut until further notice; however, daily prayers are being offered by temple priests.
The Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust authorities in Maharashtra have also followed suit and have shut the Shirdi Saibaba temple for devotees from 3 pm today. In the earlier week, the Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, urged devotees to postpone their temple visits at Sabarimala temple to avoid large gatherings and risk the spread of the virus.
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Is The Shutdown Due To The Coronavirus Affecting Livelihoods?
The shutdown in many places has been ruining livelihoods in many sectors, largely the tourism sector, which has been the worst-hit. In this case, while the temple has been shut for public health concerns, garland, flower and fruit sellers will be deeply affected by this move.
Lav Agarwal, a senior official of the health ministry, has said that social distancing as a preventive measure has to be undertaken till March 31. In this regard, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also released a social distancing advisory to decrease the spread, morbidity and mortality due to the virus.
Also Read: Maharashtra Government Shuts Gyms And Swimming Pools In 5 Districts Due to Coronavirus