Kolkata: Temples gear up to reopen, get safety protocol ready

KOLKATA: Dakshineshwar Kali Temple will re-open on Saturday but with riders, such as restricted timings, sanitisation and social distancing norms. At Kalighat temple, too, sanitisation gates will be installed by the weekend and meetings will be held on Saturday to fix SOPs for likely reopening next week.
But Kalighat committee members are worried about whether to allow devotees in the narrow sanctum sanctorum or not.

If the government-recommended 25 devotees are permitted inside now, the committee members felt it would be a challenge to take all of them into the narrow passage of the garbha griha, even if they offered prayers without flowers, prasad, charanamrit or touching the deity. They pointed out that unlike the massive Dakshineshwar premises built according to a specific plan by Rani Rashmani, Kalighat temple in the heart of the city had the problem of lack of space. “Re-opening the Kalighat temple is a huge challenge, though we cannot defer it for long. Entry to the garbha griha is part of our tradition that we will continue, maintaining safety and social distancing. But touching of idols, flowers and prasad are out for now,” said Bidyut Haldar, committee vice-president. Another member said, “We may have to take one devotee inside the garbha griha at a time. He or she will have to do a pranam and return.”
The committee is also discussing the tradition of ‘pandas’, who are not licenced by the temple but for years, act as guides to devotees. Allowing pandas to enter the premises will add to the number of people and so, the committee may ask devotees to go inside on their own.
Kushal Chowdhury, spokesperson for Dakshineshwar temple trust, said, “We are re-opening but it will be a challenge. Restrictions have been imposed right from the skywalk. Kamarhati Municipality and Barrackpore Commissionerate are extending their support.”