Religious places re-open after 8 months
| Date :17-Nov-2020 |
Shiv Sena activists performing Mahaaarti at Tekdi Ganesh Mandir on first day of reopening of religious places in State post eight months of lockdown. (Pic by Satish Raut)
Staff Reporter :
Post eight months wait, devotees finally got the chance to pay obeisance in person as doors to God’s abode opened for first time post lockdown in city. Such has been the circumstances that even place where people would visit quite frequently to pray for well being and seek blessing too needed to be locked down in a bid to stem spread of novel coronavirus in the country. From today, the last of the sector that remained under lock opened for the visitors thereby providing respite to devotees.
However, response from devotees was quite lukewarm given the fact that experts and officials have time and again voiced concerns against mass gathering. But that did not deter local politicians to again engage in little bit show of strength to claim credit for forcing State Government to lift the lockdown on religious places in Maharashtra. While cadres of Shiv Sena performed Mahaaarti at Tekdi Ganesh Temple, the presiding deity of city, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cadre indulged in celebrations outside Sai Mandir, Wardha Road. Elsewhere, devotees made it a point to attend the mass at Churches, offer Namaaz, pay obeisance at Gurudwaras and lit candles at Buddha Vihars and pray at temples across city. In all, mood in city today was sombre and in next coming days the footfall of devotees may increase as they re-open to calling of God.
At Jalaram Mandir in Quetta Colony, East Nagpur, devotees lined up since morning to pay their obeisance. The wait of nearly eight months was finally over and the joy was quite visible on the faces of people who observed all protocols while waiting in the queue. Rohit Jaipal, President, Jalaram Satsang Mandal, said that they ensured that devotees stick to rules and allowed entry only with masks and after sanitization. Also post paying obeisance no one was allowed to linger on in the premises and requested to move out. The temple would open daily at 7 am and close at 12 noon in first phase and from 4 to 9 pm in second shift. At Tajabad Darbar and Meetha Neem Dargah the two important places also saw devotees eagerly lining-up post the doors were opened today.
Zulfekar Ahmed Bhutto, corporator, along with Anwar Sheikh, Riyaz khan, Anwar Ahmed, Atif Ahmed and others visited both the places and paid their respects. Deekshabhoomi: Amid genial atmosphere Deekshabhoomi was thrown open for the devotees and tourists. Dhammasenanayak Bhadant Arya Nagarjun Sasai led the Trust administration in offering Buddha Vandana to mark formal opening post eight months lockdown. He garlanded statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and those present hailed Dr Ambedkar. Thereafter the devotees went to statue of Tathagat Gautam Buddha and prayed. Bhante Pradnyabodhi and Bhikku Sangh were also present on the occasion.
Agyaram Devi: The doors of Agyaram Devi Temple were opened amid chanting of religious hymns. Suresh Tiwari, Vice-President, Shree Agyaram Devi Mandir Trust, opened the locks on the door while Joshi Maharaj opened inner sanctum door. All the protocols as to maintaining physical distance, sanitization and wearing masks was observed in toto by the devotees present during the opening of temple. Koradi: Shree Mahalaxmi Jagdamba Temple at Koradi was opened in presence of hundreds of devotees who travelled from city in record numbers so as to be present for first glimpse of Goddess Jagdamba. Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Chairperson of Temple Trust, performed Maha Aaarti post reopening of the temple for devotees.
As per decision, the aarti will be performed at temple at 7 am, 11.45 am and 7.45 pm and it would be open from 6 am to 9 pm. Rajesh Rangari, President, Mahadula Nagar Parishad, Anil Nidan, Leader of Opposition, Nagpur Zilla Parishad, Kishor Bele, President, Kamptee Nagar Parishad, Vijay Lohsarva, Ravi Pardhi and others were present on the occasion along with temple trustees namely Dattu Samritkar, Prabha Nimone, Keshavrao Fulzele, Premlal Patel and others. BJP: The South West Nagpur unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organised Anandutsav to celebrate re-opening of religious places in unlock process by State Government. Pravin Datke, MLC and President, BJP, Nagpur Mahanagar, Munna Yadav, Kishor Wankhede, Sahebrao Ingle, Deva Dehankar, Akshay Dani, Manish Mahajan, and others were present. Celebrations were also held at Bhawani Temple at Pardi by jubilant BJP activists of East Nagpur unit under leadership of Krishna Khopde, MLA. Sanjay Awchat led the celebrations and it included Sunil Suryawanshi, Rajesh Thakur, Kapil Lende, Vivek Thawkar and others.
Ayyappa Temple: Ayyappa Temple opened for the citizens under the shadow of pandemic. Strict COVID-19 protocols were in place to ensure that citizens can safely pray at the temple. The 41-day Mandalakaalam began today with Ashtadravya Ganapathi Homam, Ashtabhishekam and offering of prayers to Lord Ayyappa. There was enthusiasm among the devotees who were excited at reopening of temple. Jain Temple: Jain community in city too rejoiced at reopening of temples for physical visits for devotees as part of unlock measures of Maharashtra Government. Abhishek was performed first thing in morning all the temples followed by Shantidhara and Kakad Aaarti.
A number of devotees gathered at Shri Parshwaprabhu Digamber Sengan Jain Mandir, Ladpura. Members of Mahavir Youth Club were among the first to offer prayers and pay their obeisance. Dinesh Sawalkar, Prashant Manekar, Mahendra Sanghvi, Shrikant Tupkar and others were prominently present. On the occasion 108 Acharya Shri Panchakalyanak Sagarji Gurudev blessed the devotees.