– Yatharth Sikka
Ahead of Ram Navami, VHP appeals people to celebrate at Ram Navami at home, avoid temple gatherings and fairs as the country battles the spread of the Coronavirus.
“Since we didn’t celebrate when the Ram Temple verdict came out, keeping communal harmony in mind, we had given a call to devotees to celebrate now. During the two weeks, starting with the Hindu new year on March 25 to Hanuman Jayanti on April 8, we had asked people to come in large numbers to Ayodhya. There was a celebration planned particularly on April 2, Ram Navami, all of which have been downsized now,” VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal said.
The executive body of the VHP, in November last year in Mangalore had decided to celebrate Ram Navami on a massive scale by taking out hundreds of Shobha yatras and a big rath yatra, all of which stand cancelled now.
Apart from VHP, temple trusts in various states in the country have directed devotees to celebrate Ram Navami at home as all the temples have been closed due to Lockdown and also to fight Coronavirus.
CM of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath too has appealed to people to hold any religious ceremony they want to hold at their respective houses and avoid any religious gathering as the country battles the spread of the Covid-19.
“Chaitra Navratri is imminent and many devotees visit temples especially on the first, second, eight and ninth day. Fairs are also organised in many areas that see mass participation of people. In light of special circumstances , I appeal to the public to perform any religious ceremony at their homes so that the spread of the infectious virus can be prevented,” Yogi Adityanath said in a government press release on Thursday.
Shri Ram Janma Bhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which is tasked with building the Ram mandir in Ayodhya, has also appealed to the district officials to avoid the Ram Navami fair. They also asked devotees to not come to Ayodhya for Navrati.
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