Poddareshwar temple firm on shobha yatra, plans preventive steps

Nagpur: The trustees of Poddareshwar Ram Mandir on Central Avenue on Sunday stood firm with their decision to hold the Ramnavami shobha yatra, scheduled on April 2. Considering the novel coronavirus outbreak, the temple trustees claimed to be taking precautionary measures at the temple and during the shobha yatra to ensure safety of devotees.
The shobha yatra taken out by Ram Mandir in Ram Nagar has already been cancelled considering fears regarding the coronavirus outbreak.
On Saturday, district collector Ravindra Thakare, while citing state government’s directives discouraging large gatherings due to coronavirus outbreak, had made it clear that religious processions will not be allowed. Even commissioner of police Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay has said they will ensure that the government’s orders are followed.
Divisional commissioner Sanjeev Kumar had told TOI that no permission will be given to big events like the Ramnavami shobha yatra in which thousands of devotees take part.
The trustees of Poddareshwar Ram Mandir on Central Avenue held a meeting on Sunday evening and discussed preparations for the shobha yatra, including precautionary measures to be taken during the procession.
Punnet Poddar, a trustee of Poddareshwar Ram Mandir, tried to justify the temple’s decision to go ahead with the religious procession. He said sanitizers will be distributed among the devotees visiting the temple and also to people participating in the procession. “We will stock up enough sanitizers for the purpose,” he said.
In a bid to disinfect the temple premises, Poddar said that bleach will be added to the water in tanks of the air coolers. “We are not going to cancel the procession under any circumstances,” he said.
Ravi Waghmare, organizer of the shobha yatra at Ram Nagar, said, “We have mutually decided to call off our shobha yatra to ensure safety of devotees. We have also cancelled the mahaprasad that was scheduled on April 3.”
He said that adequate arrangements will be made and devotees will be asked to clean their hands with sanitizer before entering the temple on Ram Navami.