Covid restrictions dampen Langoor Mela festivities

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 19

The Durgiana Temple Committee has introduced new safety regulations during the Navratra festivities and the ongoing Langoor Mela at the temple complex. The traditional festivities have taken a hit as the pandemic threat looms large and the temple committee is ensuring that no person contract the fatal virus.

Usually, the beginning of the Langoor Mela coincides with the Navratras in the city. Dressed as langoors, faces smeared with vermilion and small ‘gada’ (mace) in hands (the symbolic weapon of Lord Hanuman), children were seen lined up outside the Sri Bara Hanuman temple. The only difference this time was that many of them had put on masks.

“Every year, almost 7,000 children visit the temple during the Langoor Mela. This time the footfall has been around 3,000. We have allowed only two adults to accompany a child and barred the entry of small and large groups of dholis and troupes, who used to visit the temple dressed as langoors,” said Harish Taneja, secretary, Durgiana Temple Committee. Dancing to the beats of dhols, moving around in small groups and even performing some stunts, the langoors were accompanied by their families.

The temple authorities have also stopped the prasad distribution system to avoid the spread of the contagion. “Only devotees bring their own prasad and they are asked to take it back with them,” informed Harish.

Apart from the standard safety procedures like wearing masks mandatory and thermal screening of devotees, the temple management has also put up information posters for devotees to follow the Covid-19 safety norms. The Durgiana Temple gets an average of 40,000 devotees every year during the Navratras. This time due to the Covid-19 threat and limitations, the number of devotees is less as compared to the previous year.

A tradition that has been followed for the past many years, the 10-day festival’s significance is widespread and people from all over country as well as overseas come to the city during the Navratras to be a part of the festival.