Temples open across Telangana

Hyderabad: After a nearly 80-day-long COVID-19 lockdown ban, temples were opened in the state for devotees though in small numbers.

All temples are strictly following the guidelines issued by the state government and have displayed 'No mask- No entry' boards at the entrance of the temples. The temple authorities have provided sanitizer facilities at the entrance and also at queue lines at major temples. The devotees were asked to maintain physical distance in the temples. Circles have been marked in the temple premises.

Devotees expressed great satisfaction that they could visit the temple and pray for good health and also see that coronavirus was won over soon. K Siddharth, a devotee at Hanuman temple in Vijayanagar Colony, said: "Never before did he have to stay away from visiting a temple for so many days. He felt that prayers would help the world in winning over the deadly virus which had made life topsy turvy. The devotees at almost all the temples were seen standing in queues wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing.

Temple authorities took up sanitization measures like thermal scanners, disinfectant tunnels and touch-less sanitizers. The Yadadri temple authorities started trial run and allowed only the temple employees and some local people on Monday for a darshan of the Lord.

Other devotees would be allowed from Tuesday but they will have to show Aadhaar for entry. No four-wheeler will be allowed to go up to the temple.

Yadadri District Collector Anita Ramachandran, Deputy Collector Garima Aggarwal also visited the temple on Monday.

Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy temple in Vemulawada provided disinfectant tunnels at the temple entrance. Executive Officer M Ramakrishna Rao told The Hans India that all protocols were being followed at the temple. About 1,000 devotees visit the temple during normal days. On day one, nearly 500 devotees visited the temple on Monday. The EO said that the temple did not provide teertham and prasadam. However, laddus were sold outside the premises. He said that only darshan was allowed and no other sevas were allowed. The temple authorities in Bhadrachalaam made arrangements for touch less hand sanitizers and thermal scanners. The devotees were allowed inside the temple after scanning twice in the queue lines.