NEW DELHI: To maintain social distancing among devotees, the Kalkaji temple has marked spots and attached sanitiser bottles on alternate pillars. "We will be opening the temple on June 8 and taking care of social distancing inside with designated spots marked for devotees," said Deepak Bhardwaj, president of the temple.
At the Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place, the management has installed a sanitising tunnel and barricaded the area to only allow 20 people at a time. Other devotees would be allowed to enter only after the first group exits the temple. Mahant Suresh Sharma said they have not only marked circles for devotees to stand in for paying obeisance to God, but also in front of shops to buy prasad and sweets.
"The shops will also have sanitisers. Apart from installing a sanitising tunnel, we have asked police to barricade the area so that entry is restricted. We will start operations once we get a nod from the government," said Sharma, adding that the cloth used by people to cover their head would have to be left at a specific point so that it could be washed immediately.
Similar rules are being put in place at mosques. Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari said that social distancing would be strictly followed and only small groups would be permitted inside.
"Namaz is offered at the mosque five times a day, but we expect most people to turn up for the evening and night prayers since the weather is better at that time. We are well-prepared to handle the crowd. As soon as the government declares the SOPs, we will make social distancing markings and place sanitisers inside the mosque," the Imam said.
Bukhari added that he expected a larger crowd to visit the mosque as people have been cooped up at home for long. "But we will make announcements so that they are aware about how to go about in public and how they should behave inside the premises," he said.
Mufti Mukarram, Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid, said, "Offering namaz five times shouldn't be a problem as not many people may turn up. We will make the plans for Fridays when at least 5,000 people could arrive to pray."
Strict measures have also been put up at gurdwaras. Manjinder Singh Sirsa, president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, said to ensure the least amount of waiting time at gurdwaras like Bangla Sahib and Sheesh Ganj Sahib, where the largest footfall is recorded, exits have been turned into entry points.
"We have taken this step to ensure that more people can enter with the least amount of contact. Markers have been put up to ensure social distancing. Regular announcements will be made to ensure the safety of visitors," added Sirsa.
The Defence Colony gurdwara has decided to sanitise the entire complex daily and open only a small gate for entry and exit of devotees. Maj Gen (Retd) PS Malhotra, president of the gurdwara, said, "There will be automatic hand sanitisation machines installed at the entrance. We are placing cushions in the darbar hall at a distance of six feet so that social distancing is automatically maintained. Not more than 20 people will be allowed inside at a time. We have 25 workers and have developed a quarantine facility for them in case they get infected with the novel coronavirus."
The churches have decided to wait for the government to issue SOPs. Father Savarimuthu Sankar at Sacred Heart Cathedral near Connaught Place said, "We will ensure that every person who visits the church is provided sanitiser. The seating arrangements will be made following social distancing norms."
Sanjay Rana of Greater Kailash-II RWA said they are talking to the managements of the Sanatan Dharm and Arya Samaj temples, two gurdwaras and two churches in the area to ensure their complexes are sanitised regularly. "We have asked the committees to depute staff to ensure people leave within 10-15 minutes of their visit," he added.
At the Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place, the management has installed a sanitising tunnel and barricaded the area to only allow 20 people at a time. Other devotees would be allowed to enter only after the first group exits the temple. Mahant Suresh Sharma said they have not only marked circles for devotees to stand in for paying obeisance to God, but also in front of shops to buy prasad and sweets.
"The shops will also have sanitisers. Apart from installing a sanitising tunnel, we have asked police to barricade the area so that entry is restricted. We will start operations once we get a nod from the government," said Sharma, adding that the cloth used by people to cover their head would have to be left at a specific point so that it could be washed immediately.
Similar rules are being put in place at mosques. Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari said that social distancing would be strictly followed and only small groups would be permitted inside.
"Namaz is offered at the mosque five times a day, but we expect most people to turn up for the evening and night prayers since the weather is better at that time. We are well-prepared to handle the crowd. As soon as the government declares the SOPs, we will make social distancing markings and place sanitisers inside the mosque," the Imam said.
Bukhari added that he expected a larger crowd to visit the mosque as people have been cooped up at home for long. "But we will make announcements so that they are aware about how to go about in public and how they should behave inside the premises," he said.
Mufti Mukarram, Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid, said, "Offering namaz five times shouldn't be a problem as not many people may turn up. We will make the plans for Fridays when at least 5,000 people could arrive to pray."
Strict measures have also been put up at gurdwaras. Manjinder Singh Sirsa, president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, said to ensure the least amount of waiting time at gurdwaras like Bangla Sahib and Sheesh Ganj Sahib, where the largest footfall is recorded, exits have been turned into entry points.
"We have taken this step to ensure that more people can enter with the least amount of contact. Markers have been put up to ensure social distancing. Regular announcements will be made to ensure the safety of visitors," added Sirsa.
The Defence Colony gurdwara has decided to sanitise the entire complex daily and open only a small gate for entry and exit of devotees. Maj Gen (Retd) PS Malhotra, president of the gurdwara, said, "There will be automatic hand sanitisation machines installed at the entrance. We are placing cushions in the darbar hall at a distance of six feet so that social distancing is automatically maintained. Not more than 20 people will be allowed inside at a time. We have 25 workers and have developed a quarantine facility for them in case they get infected with the novel coronavirus."
The churches have decided to wait for the government to issue SOPs. Father Savarimuthu Sankar at Sacred Heart Cathedral near Connaught Place said, "We will ensure that every person who visits the church is provided sanitiser. The seating arrangements will be made following social distancing norms."
Sanjay Rana of Greater Kailash-II RWA said they are talking to the managements of the Sanatan Dharm and Arya Samaj temples, two gurdwaras and two churches in the area to ensure their complexes are sanitised regularly. "We have asked the committees to depute staff to ensure people leave within 10-15 minutes of their visit," he added.
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