Lockdown restrictions hit devotees turnout in Durga temple

Vijayawada: The lockdown restrictions and growing cases of Coronavirus have their impact on the attendance of devotees at the Durga temple. For the second consecutive day on Thursday, the number of devotees not exceeded 1500. The officials have estimated that 5000 devotees would visit the temple for the Darshan. However, there was lukewarm response from the devotees.

Due to increase of Covid-19 cases, the district administration imposed lockdown in 42 divisions of the city out of total 64 divisions. Most of the one town area was under lockdown as new cases were reported in Kotha Peta, Chitti Nagar and other areas.

Consequently, the police are maintaining vigil very strictly and implementing Section 144. After the gap of more than 70 days, Darshan was resumed in the temple for devotees on June 10. On the first day also, the attendance was less than 1500, which is not as per expectations of the temple administration.

On Thursday, the devotees visited between 6 am and 5 pm and the temple administration taken measures for thermal screening, sanitization and physical distance on the temple premises and queue lines. The priests performed the rituals as usual and performed the pujas.