Jharkhand govt preparations for another Shravan sans devotees

RANCHI: With the holy month of Shravan starting on Sunday, the administration is making extra preparations to enforce Covid-19 protocols.
As per Hindu beliefs, Shravan is an auspicious month to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. Devotees in lakhs visit prominent shrines across the state during this time of the year and especially on Mondays. But keeping the Covid-19 situation in mind, the state government has continued its ban on large-scale religious congregations, notwithstanding the demands of several BJP leaders to reopen temples for devotees.
In Deoghar, which is home to the Baba Baidyanath dham temple, the district administration on Saturday gave final touches to its preparedness to ensure that no devotee is allowed inside the temple as per the government diktat. Deputy commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri along with other officials visited different places across the district to take stock of the administrative preparation.
Speaking to TOI, Bhajantri said, “We are ready for smooth conduct of Shravan month sans devotees and mela this time due to Covid-19. All ground works have been completed and teams have been deployed at sensitive pockets.”
As part of the strategy, the district administration has put up check points at five key intersections along inter-state and inter-district borders to prevent devotees from thronging the temple. The check points have been put up at Dumma more, Bardmara, Andrigadan, Jainpur more and Chakai. “In all these places, we have deployed quick response teams (QRTs). Within the town, all roads leading to the temple have been sealed,” he said.
Simultaneously, the district administration has been holding awareness drives across the district and along bordering Bihar to inform devotees about the ban on temple visit. “We are being specially vigilant near Sultanganj, along the Bihar border, from where kanwariyas carry holy water to offer Lord Shiva. This apart, we have put up awareness boards to announce the ban on devotees,” he said, adding that puja at the temple would be carried out like usual. “The rituals will be telecast live daily on Jhargov.tv,” he said.
Similar measures have been put up in Dumka as well, which is famous for its Basukinath temple. In Ranchi, where scores of people visit the Pahari temple during Shravan, officials said they have made arrangements for online puja and darshan. “One can observe the rituals through Pahadimandirranchi.com and can also book special puja online,” said Abhishek Anand, the treasurer of the temple. He added that they will keep the main gates of the temple closed for the general public on all days.