Panchkula, March 19: As scare of coronavirus (Covid-19) increases in the country, Navratri fair will not be held at the Mansa Devi Temple.
Lakhs of devotees visit the temple daily during this holy period. As a result, shopkeepers in the vicinity of the temple are staring at zero business.
“Jo bhi Mata karti hai, thik karti hai. Isme hum kya kar sakte hain. Sarkar ne yeh kadam hamare liye hi utthaya hai. (Whatever goddess does, it does for the good. The government has shut the temple as a precautionary measure),” said Raj Kumar, owner, Bittu Prasad Bhandar.
“During Navratras we witness huge rush. However, there will be no sales this time as devotees have been advised to refrain from venturing out,” he said.
Mangal Prasad, who manages a shoe stall and earns Rs 300 daily, is thinking of heading back to his native place in Unnao as his earnings have taken a big hit. “I own one bigha at village. Hailstorm has damaged my crop. I do not know what to do next,” he said.
MS Yadav, CEO, Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board, said, “We will not install a screen at the temple during Navratras as it will lead to mass gatherings.”
Community kitchen services suspended
The administration on Wednesday held a meeting with temple, church, gurdwara and mosque representatives with regards to implementation of social distancing. Panchkula Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Ahuja said, “Religious organisations’ representatives have been told to support the authorities in its fight against Covid-19. They have been asked shut down community kitchen services.” Representatives of Sector-7 based gurdwara have agreed to discontinue langar sewa.
Civil Surgeon Jasjeet Kaur said, “Representatives have been urged to avoid large gathering to contain spread of Covid-19.”
