Kangra’s famous temples unlikely to open on June 8

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, June 5

Despite the Union Ministry of Home Affairs issuing Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) for opening temples across the country after June 8, the major temples in Kangra district are unlikely to open from the date.

Kangra district has some major temples, such as the Chamunda Mata temple, Brajeshwari Mata temple, Jawalamukhi temple, Baglamukhi temple and Shiva temple in Baijnath, that receive lakhs of pilgrims every year. Besides the Baglamukhi temple, which is being controlled by a private trust, all other temples are being run by the government and Kangra deputy commissioner is the chairman of the management committees of these temples.

Sources said since the lockdown, the temples, which used to receive lakhs in offering and donations each day, have not received even a single penny. This is for the first time that their earnings have come to naught.

However, Kangra Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Prajapati said the temples had enough funds to pay their employees’ salaries and maintain the places.

The DC, when asked if the temples would open after June 8 as per the Centre’s SOP, said it might take some more time. “The SOP was issued yesterday. We are studying the guidelines. However, the temples in Kangra have their own specific problems. We shall like to first train our staff in implementing the SOPs before opening the temples for general public,” he said.

The famous temples in Kangra district have narrow entrances. People have to travel through narrow lanes or bazaars to reach the main temples. If opened, the administration would have a tough time maintaining social distancing.

The temples are also an important part of the economy of the towns of Kangra, Jawalamukhi and Baijnath in the district. Most of the economic activity in these towns is dependent on the tourists who come here from other parts of the country. Though the Union Government has allowed opening of temples, prashad shops around the temples have still not been allowed to function. The offering of prashad in temples is also banned.

Also, these temples are an important part of the temple tourism in the state, which provides direct and indirect employment to thousands in the district. However, since people from other states are not being allowed to enter the state for temple tourism, the sector is unlikely to pick up in the near future.

KNOW THE IMPORTANT

• Kangra district has some major temples, such as the Chamunda Mata temple, Brajeshwari Mata temple, Jawalamukhi temple, Baglamukhi temple and Shiva temple in Baijnath, that receive lakhs of pilgrims every year
• Besides the Baglamukhi temple, which is being controlled by a private trust, all other temples are being run by the government and the Kangra deputy commissioner is the chairman of the management committees of these temples
• The temples are also an important part of the economy of the towns of Kangra, Jawalamukhi and Baijnath in the district. Most of the economic activity in these towns is dependent on the tourists who come here from other parts of the country
• These temples are an important part of the temple tourism in the state, which provides direct and indirect employment to thousands of people in the district

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