Janmashtami celebrations with caution

Amarjot Kaur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 11

As Covid cases continue to surge, city temples are treading with caution to ensure public safety on Janmashtami. While the Iskcon temple will remain closed, others may allow people to pay obeisance till 9 pm. Many temples, including Iskcon, will live-stream customary celebrations of Lord Krishna’s birth anniversary and prayers on social media.

Speaking with The Tribune, co-president of Iskcon temple, Chandigarh, Nand Maharaj Das said: “We will be live-streaming ‘kalash abhishek’ and kirtans online, through Zoom, YouTube and Facebook, as the city police have not allowed us to open the temple because of the pandemic.” He added: “Krishna sees our emotions, so we can worship him under such circumstances while being at our homes.”

The entire programme will be live-streamed on YouTube.com/ISKCONChandigarh and Facebook.com/iskconchd and at frequent intervals on Instagram and Twitter.

Earlier, Iskcon temple hosted thousands of Lord Krishna’s devotees on Janmashtami. This time the prayers will be performed by the temple residents now. “Last year, between 80,000 and 1 lakh people visited Iskcon,” shared Das.

In Sector 20, Arvind Shastri of Shree Gugga Madi Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir said: “This year, no prasad will be given to the devotees.

continued on page 2