Pavagadh temple opens on Tuesday

Vadodara: The famed Mahakali temple atop Pavagadh hill will open doors to its devotees for the first time after lockdown on Tuesday morning. The temple, one of the Shaktipeeth of the goddess, had closed on March 20.
The temple trust has announced that the temple will remain open daily from 6 am to 7.30 pm but pilgrims will have to maintain social distancing and wear face masks. While it has banned offerings like ‘chundari’ and coconut, the temple trust will not give pilgrims any ‘prasad’. “We will not allow children below the age of 10 years and adults above the age of 65 years to visit the temple as of now. We also advise pregnant women and physically disabled people to avoid visiting the temple for now,” said Raju Bhatt, secretary of the temple trust.
Bhatt added that pilgrims’ body temperature will be tested and a disinfectant chamber has also been installed on the premises. The temple premises was sanitized on Saturday and Sunday. The ropeway, however, will also be made functional.