JK News Today 

JAMMU, August 5:

With places of worship that have remained closed since March 24 and reopening on August 16 as per the decision of the government, the J&K Dharmarth Trust has prepared a protocol for devotees and rituals as per guidelines of the government.

In this connection, Mubarak Singh, President of the Trust chaired a meeting to make elaborate arrangements for reopening the temples for devotees.

“As per the guidelines, the Trust shall make adequate arrangements for reopening of all the temples across Jammu and Kashmir while taking into account the precaution for COVID like social distancing, sanitization of all places regularly, mandatory wearing of masks etc. It was decided in the meeting that the devotees won’t be allowed to enter into the temple, touch the idols nor will Pujaris be annoying. The management has made arrangements for thermal screening and circles on floors to maintain social distancing in the fight against coronavirus,” Singh said.

“The visiting pilgrims will be divided into small groups for Darshan to ensure social distancing among them. It would be compulsory to wear masks to cover the mouth. Inside the temple, no priest would anoint devotees’ forehead with Tilak,” he added.

The President Dharmarth Trust has directed the staff of all temples to wear masks, sanitize hands and arrange separate queues for incoming and outgoing devotees. The Trust has also decided to provide masks to devotees who may not have with them, he added.

“Dharmarth Trust is a premier religious institution which has appreciated the measures taken by the government for containing the spread of coronavirus and the Trust has complied with the directions issued by the government from time to time,” he said.

The President also appealed to the devotees who would visit the temple to observe social distancing and follow the protocol to avoid the risk and chances of spreading coronavirus.

Pertinent to mention here that the government of J&K has decided to reopen the places of worship and temples from August 16, 2020 while observing strict guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs).