Lagatar24 Network
Dumka, Dec.24: The Deoghar administration has resolved not to allow anyone to pay offerings at the Baidyanath Dham temple without having both the doses of Covid vaccination, on the onset of the New Year on January 1.
Earlier, a similar decision was taken by the Dumka administration over the entry of devotees into Basukinath temple.
Deoghar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Manjunath Bhajantri along with the SP Dhananjay Kumar Singh inspected the temple premises and route lines of the devotees who are expected to turn up in large numbers to pay offerings on the occasion.
Bhajantri said that magistrates would be deployed at all the entry points of the Baidyanath Dham temple and will allow devotees only after they produce certificates of both the doses of Covid vaccination.
A sufficient number of forces will also be deployed in and around the temple premises, Shiva Ganga (the holy pond) and along the route lines of the devotees to maintain the law and order, the DC told the reporters, adding that the Deoghar municipal corporation was also directed to sanitize the lavatories and the queue complex.
Notably, devotees from across Jharkhand and neighbouring states of Bihar and Bengal turn up in large numbers to pay offerings at Baidyanath Dham and Basukinath temples respectively situated in Deoghar and Dumka districts on the occasion of the New Year to seek the blessing of Lord Shiva. This makes it tough for the respective district administrations to maintain the law and order situation.
As per a rough estimate, Baidyanath Dham temple alone will witness the footfall of nearly one lakh devotees on January 1 like any other auspicious occasion.
Separate counters for issuing Shighra Darshanam coupons will also be installed by the Baidyanath Dham temple management to enable aspiring devotees to have easy access to the deity by paying a fixed amount.
