Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, August 10

Pilgrims coming from Punjab and other states to pay obeisance at temples in Una and Kangra districts during Navratras that started yesterday are creating hassles for the law enforcement authorities at the borders.

Today, a large number of pilgrims gathered at the Gagret border of Una district and raised slogans against the Himachal Government for not allowing them to pay obeisance at the temples. The law enforcement authorities had a tough time controlling the crowd of pilgrims. Mata Chintpurni temple in Una district and the Jawalamukhi temple in Kangra district receive a large number of pilgrims during the Navratras.

The state government has decided not to allow pilgrims not carrying a negative RT-PCR test report not older than 72 hours or a two doses certificate from an authorised centre.

The Kangra administration has started online services to streamline the movement of devotees. The facility of online registration on the templevisit.hp.gov.in has been provided to the devotees from other states at major temples in Kangra district such as Jwalamukhi, Bajjreshwari Dham and Chamundaji. The devotees will send their details on a form on this link. It will be mandatory to give information about the Covid negative report and vaccination in the prescribed form, after which the district administration will inform the devotee concerned through message about the timing of darshan.

Deputy Commissioner Nipun Jindal said that the decision of online registration was taken to check crowding at the temples and save the time of devotees. He added that parking, a help desk and counters for issuing slips had been earmarked within one to 2 km of the temples for the convenience of the devotees.

He added that there was a complete ban on langar during the Navratras. Besides, entry to the temples during aarti was also prohibited.

Jindal said that the devotees were barred from touching idols and ringing bells in the temples. Besides, separate entry and exit gates had been set up. Elaborate security arrangements had also been made in the temples, he added.