SOPs for Himachal shrines issued, no bhajan, no holy dip

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 5

The Department of Language, Art and Culture today issued the guidelines for regulating the movement of pilgrims in shrines in the state to be opened from September 10. While the singing of devotional songs in the shrines would be banned, the temple bells would be covered with cloth.

RD Dhiman, Additional Chief Secretary (Language, Art and Culture), issued the guidelines which would have to be adhered to on the opening of the places of worship. The guidelines, which are similar to the one issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, prohibit the holding of any function such as marriage, havan, mundan or kirtan in the shrines. People would not be allowed to crowd or keep standing in the shrines.

• Other guidelines
• People above the age of 65, those having comorbidities, expectant mothers and children below the age of 10 years would not be allowed entry
• Temple bells will be covered with cloth
• No water for dipping feet to be provided; holy dip in sarovar banned

People above the age of 65, those having comorbidities, expectant mothers and children below the age of 10 years would not be allowed entry in the temples.

The overnight stay of pilgrims in the shrines would be totally banned. Nobody would be allowed to enter the ‘garbh grih’ of the temple nor would the priest touch or bless anybody.

The singing of devotional songs in the shrines would be banned and the temples bells would be covered with cloth and tied so that nobody could ring them.

The total sanitisation of the religious places would be done, no water for dipping feet in or taking a holy dip in the sarovar would be allowed. As per the guidelines, people should avoid visiting the shrines in general and only visit occasionally.

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