Tirupati: Temples gear up to reopen for devotees

Tirupati: Temples are gearing up to restart darshan for devotees as soon as the lockdown restrictions are lifted. As of now, it is widely expected that the government may relax restrictions and allow people to have darshan at temples and other religious places during lockdown 4.0. Following the memo issued by the Commissioner of Endowments, executive officers started making arrangements in their temples. 

In Chittoor district, the famous Srikalahasteeswara Swamy devasthanam and Kanipakam Varasiddi Vinayaka Swamy devasthanam are all set to reopen for devotees. Disinfectant tunnels are being set up at entry points so that devotees will get disinfected automatically before they enter the temples. Sufficient number of taps to facilitate hand wash are being arranged. Soap and sanitisers also will be made available there. Markings in the queue lines are completed to make devotees to stand accordingly with a physical distance of six feet between each other.

They procured thermal guns to check the body temperature of the devotees. Only those having normal temperature will be allowed to pass through the disinfectant tunnel to go for darshan. Speaking to The Hans India, Kanipakam temple in charge EO P Purnachandra Rao said they will be taking advice of medical and health authorities on the disinfectant that can be used in the tunnel so that side effects can be avoided. Following physical distancing norms, nearly 250 devotees will be allowed for darshan per hour. Sheds will be made available for devotees to wait until their turn comes. Similarly, Srikalahasteeswara Devasthanam EO C Chandrasekhar Reddy said there would be only laghu darshan and no 'Antaralaya or Garbhalaya' darshans will be allowed. They have been trying to make temple website ready to provide online darshan booking facility, he said.

The famous Rahu Kethu pujas will also be started when the temple is reopened. However, nearly 400 devotees will be allowed to perform these pujas instead of more than 900 earlier. Also, there would be no satari, harati and theertham will be given. Needless to say that the temples have been facing financial crunch for the last 55 days. The problem is even more severe for small temples as their resources are very much meagre.