MANOJ SINHA
Ramgarh, Jan 13: The annual fair held on January 14-15 on the occasion of Makar Sankranti at Chhinnamastika temple located at the famous Siddhapeeth Rajrappa will not be held this year also due to the increasing infection of Corona.
Subhasish Panda, Aseem Panda and Chhotu Panda from the temple authority said, “The spread of corona is on a large scale in the district this year too. In such a situation, it is everyone’s duty to protect the life and property of the common people. We will all work together to defeat Corona. We are sure that everyone will follow the guidelines of the government. Action will be taken against those who break the rule under the Disaster Act.”
On the occasion of Makar Sankranti festival, special worship is done at the Chhinnamastika temple. Every year, hundreds of people from not only Jharkhand but also from neighboring states come here after fulfilling their vows and take dips at the confluence site of Damodar-Bhairavi rivers.
“The sentiments of all the devotees are attached to the temple. We all make a humble request and appeal to them not to participate in this fair for the safety of their lives, in the interest of society, family and the state. Do worship in your own home,” another authority of the temple said.
“It is necessary to follow physical distance so that the corona does not spread. Despite this, if the crowd gathers in the temple, it will be considered a violation of the guidelines issued by the government. Therefore, the fair will not be organized,” he added.
Shopkeepers around the temple are not providing prasad or any other material to pilgrims who are not wearing masks. The district administration has told them that if they offer prasad for worship to the devotees without wearing a mask, they will be punished.
Along with this, all shopkeepers were told that they needed to get their corona tests done once a week. The shopkeepers have now determined that any devotee entering the shops without a mask would be denied access.
Only after sanitizing their hands with sanitizer will devotees be permitted into the business. The shops claim that due to the large number of worshippers on the temple grounds, extra caution would be exercised.
All the shopkeepers have collectively taken the same decision that till the corona infection is not over, they will follow the physical distance regularly.
