Vijayawada: Minister Vellampalli Srinivas said devotees to be allowed for darshan in temples from June 10

Vijayawada: It is all set for allowing devotees into the temples for darshan in the State from June 10 following the permission given by the Union government.

The Endowments Department is gearing up to allow the devotees and resume all spiritual activities in the temples, Endowments Minister Vellampalli Srinivas said on Saturday. He said two days trial run will be conducted on June 8 and 9 by the temple staff as part of preparations for allowing the devotees and maintenance of queue lines with physical distance.

The Minister conducted a review meeting with officials of the Endowments Department and discussed the measures to be taken for darshan of devotees and implementing the Covid-19 lockdown 5.0 rules in temples.

Later addressing the media, Vellampalli said all temples remained opened in the State during the Lockdown period for more than two months but the devotees were not allowed for darshan due to the nationwide lockdown restrictions.

He said due to the permission given by the Union government to allow devotees into the places of worship in the country from June 8, the State government has decided to allow the devotees into the temples from June 10 onwards. He said the lockdown 5.0 rules will be continued in the containment zones till June 30 and devotees will not be allowed into the temples in these areas.

He suggested that senior citizens over 65 years of age and children below 10 years of age should not visit the temples as part of the guidelines issued by the State government.

Giving details of the Covid lockdown guidelines, he said the devotees should maintain six feet distance in the queue lines and must wear masks. He has made it clear that devotees without masks will not be allowed into the temples. Minister said orders were issued to use thermal scanners at the entrance of the temples to check the temperature of the devotees and must keep sanitisers for the convenience of devotees.

Velampalli said the devotees should to take care of themselves to stay safe from coronavirus and appealed to them to immediately contact the helpline if they suffer from Covid-19 symptoms like fever, cold and cough etc.

The Minister said that spitting at open places on temple premises was strictly prohibited and devotees must download the Aarogya Setu app. He asked the administration of temples to ensure physical distance in the queue lines and other places. He said guidelines were issued to the temples to follow lock down 5.0 rules.

He said instructions were given to temple staff to immediately alert the Medical and Health Department if they notice persons with symptoms of Covid-19 or feeling sick. They were asked to take measures to maintain hygiene at the toilets, drinking water points and other places and sanitise as per the norms. Vijayawada Central MLA Malladi Vishnu and others were present on the occasion.