KOLKATA: At Kalighat temple, hundreds queue up for hours just to get a chance to enter the sanctum sanctorum, touch the idol and blessed by the priest. The new guidelines by the Centre have now not only put a brake on idol-touching but also say that distribution of prasad or charanamrito or even choir singing will not be allowed in religious institutions for the time being.
Temples like Kalighat and Dakshineswar, that were preparing SOPs for themselves for a re-start, have again gone into a huddle to draw up fresh plans to negotiate this hurdle. Churches, which had already opened their doors on June 1, say that corporate worship or Mass on-site are not happening for the moment and live choirs are not being called on to the church premises.
At Dakshineswar, idol-touching is not a problem because devotees get darshan from a distance and are not allowed to enter the garbha griha. However, handing over flowers and dry sweets to the priest for puja, which are then handed back to the devotee, will now be an issue. Both Kalighat and Dakshineswar have decided that the priest will not put the sindoor dot on the devotee’s forehead, keeping new social distancing norms in mind.
“Now even serving the charanamrito, or the holy water that is collected in pots after washing the feet of the idol, that the devotees are allowed to partake, will become an issue. Prasad has been banned, will flowers also be an issue? We are now saddled with so many questions,” said Bidyut Haldar, vice-president of the Kalighat temple committee. The temple has just given orders for the sanitization tunnels that will be set up at six entry points and is likely to open on June 15.
The Dakshineswar temple had already drawn up a detailed SOP for the trial run on June 8-10. “We are re-working everything keeping the new points in mind,” said Kushal Chowdhury, spokesperson of the temple trust. Both the temples had already instructed the prasad and flower sellers in the arcades about new guidelines. The snacks shops have been instructed not to pack food for devotees to carry back,” Chowdhury added.
The two churches — Roman Catholic Church and Church of North India — are allowing just 10 worshippers inside the church premise between 10am and 6pm. Kissing the priest’s hand, confessions or keeping holy water in pewters outside the churches are not being allowed for the time being. Both the churches will hold their first post-lockdown on-site mass on Sunday with just 10 worshippers.
“On Monday, archbishop Thomas D’Souza will hold a review meeting, keeping the new circular of the Centre in mind,” said vicar general Dominic Gomes of the archdiocese of Kolkata.
Temples like Kalighat and Dakshineswar, that were preparing SOPs for themselves for a re-start, have again gone into a huddle to draw up fresh plans to negotiate this hurdle. Churches, which had already opened their doors on June 1, say that corporate worship or Mass on-site are not happening for the moment and live choirs are not being called on to the church premises.
At Dakshineswar, idol-touching is not a problem because devotees get darshan from a distance and are not allowed to enter the garbha griha. However, handing over flowers and dry sweets to the priest for puja, which are then handed back to the devotee, will now be an issue. Both Kalighat and Dakshineswar have decided that the priest will not put the sindoor dot on the devotee’s forehead, keeping new social distancing norms in mind.
“Now even serving the charanamrito, or the holy water that is collected in pots after washing the feet of the idol, that the devotees are allowed to partake, will become an issue. Prasad has been banned, will flowers also be an issue? We are now saddled with so many questions,” said Bidyut Haldar, vice-president of the Kalighat temple committee. The temple has just given orders for the sanitization tunnels that will be set up at six entry points and is likely to open on June 15.
The Dakshineswar temple had already drawn up a detailed SOP for the trial run on June 8-10. “We are re-working everything keeping the new points in mind,” said Kushal Chowdhury, spokesperson of the temple trust. Both the temples had already instructed the prasad and flower sellers in the arcades about new guidelines. The snacks shops have been instructed not to pack food for devotees to carry back,” Chowdhury added.
The two churches — Roman Catholic Church and Church of North India — are allowing just 10 worshippers inside the church premise between 10am and 6pm. Kissing the priest’s hand, confessions or keeping holy water in pewters outside the churches are not being allowed for the time being. Both the churches will hold their first post-lockdown on-site mass on Sunday with just 10 worshippers.
“On Monday, archbishop Thomas D’Souza will hold a review meeting, keeping the new circular of the Centre in mind,” said vicar general Dominic Gomes of the archdiocese of Kolkata.
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