BackReligious strictures make way to accommodate covid precautions
Devotees cannot carry hand sanitizers into temples as they contain alcohol, an item forbidden on the precincts
PremiumERNAKULAM : Devotees returning to places of worship are bracing for major changes as authorities try to strike a balance between resuming traditional rites and avoiding a public health risk from mass contact.
In the over-2,000-year-old history of the Guruvayur temple in Kerala or Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh, devotees have never had to register in an e-portal before arriving—one of the measures put in place in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
Devotees cannot carry hand sanitizers, as is the norm of the times, while visiting temples because of their alcohol content.
There is another dilemma. Several state governments have asked people who are more than 60 years old to not venture out. However, several priests are senior citizens.
Besides, many rituals have also now become impossible to follow. For centuries, Hindu priests have conducted rites that involved physically touching devotees or objects— such as tolling a bell, giving holy water or applying sandalwood paste -- and receiving offerings. These are now difficult, if not banned.
Some religious places are innovating. At Guruvayur, all offerings are made online. Yet, there is a drastic fall in visitors, from tens of thousands daily to the mandatory cap of around a hundred now. The consequent meagre revenue is nowhere near enough to meet the huge costs of reopening, according to temple officials.
“It is a difficult task, but we have reopened nevertheless. We have taken protocols strictly. Entry is permitted only through e-tokens. Besides temperature checks, we are also noting down contact details of everyone who enters," said K.B. Mohandas, chairman of the Guruvayur Devaswom, which runs the temple.
Tirupati temple, considered India’s wealthiest religious institution with an annual revenue of more than ₹30,000 crore, reportedly struggled to pay salaries during the lockdown. It estimated a loss of ₹400 crore in the three-month lockdown period.
The temple reopened on Monday for a three-day trial. “[S]afety measures are in place when pilgrim services for the rest of the country are resumed from June 11," said Y.V. Subba Reddy, chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, which runs the temple, a newspaper report said.
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