Lagatar24 Network
Dumka, Jan 5: Dumka district administration has introduced ‘Arghya system’ from today onwards for the devotees arriving to pay offerings at the famous Shiva temple in Basukinath Dham.
The measure, according to SDO (Civil) Maheshwar Mahto, is aimed at restricting devotees from entering into the ‘garbha griha’ (Sanctum Sanctorum) of the temple in the wake of the surge being subsequently recorded in Coronavirus.
The devotees will be able to offer the sacred water to the deity by pouring it on a large metal vessel kept outside the garbha griha which is channelized up to the shiva lingam instead of directly pouring it on the idol.
Devotees, therefore, will also remain deprived of availing the opportunity of performing Sparsh Puja (touching the shiva lingam) until further administrative order.
“The Arghya system has been introduced as a measure to prevent the spread of Coronavirus which has now been on the surge,” the SDO (Civil) said, who also happens to be the secretary of the Basukinath temple management committee.
The Arghya system was actually introduced by the temple management committee on Tuesday itself but had to step back just after one hour following the stiff opposition of the local priest community which has finally been reintroduced today.
The Deoghar district administration meanwhile is yet to come forward with any such restrictions for the devotees arriving at the Baidyanath Dham temple.
“We have not yet resolved to introduce the Arghya system at the Baidyanath Dham temple. However, the restrictions on the number of pilgrims will be put in place if there is a significant surge in their arrival,” Deoghar SDO (Civil) Dinesh Kumar Yadav said.
