Face Masks & Social Distancing Compulsory, Physical Offering Of 'Prasad' Prohibited: Check SOPs For Religious Places Opening In Maharashtra

Maharashtra government stated that physical offerings such as ‘prasad’ distribution or sprinkling of holy water will not be allowed inside the religious places.

(File PTI Photo/Shashank Parade)

A day after announcing to reopen temples and all other religious places in the state, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government on Sunday issued a set of guidelines to ensure minimum Covid-19 risk. "All religious places in the state to re-open for devotees from Monday, 16th November. Wearing the mask will be compulsory, all COVID norms will have to be followed," Government of Maharashtra said in a statement. As per the issued standard operating procedure (SOP), only shrines located outside containment zones will be allowed to open. The state government further stated that physical offerings such as ‘prasad’ distribution or sprinkling of holy water will not be allowed inside the religious places. Thermal screening and hand sanitisers will be necessary, SOPs mentioned. All the people connected with the temples and religious places including workers and visitors, have been asked to wear masks and maintain social distancing strictly. people above 65 years of age, those with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below 10 years of age have been asked to stay at home. In addition to this, all the visitors have been instructed to to use Aarogya Setu app and preferably take off their shoes in their own vehicle before entering the place of worship. Last week, the Maharashtra CM while greeting citizens for the upcoming festival of Diwali, had hinted at the opening of Temples and other places of worship that have been closed since March due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Thackeray also confirmed that schools were set to resume (for Classes 9 to 12) after Diwali, with safety protocols already in place for this.