Coronavirus: Chilkur Balaji temple to stay shut from March 19

Hyderabad: In the wake of Covid-19, as a precautionary measure to control the spread of the pandemic, the government has ordered to close Chilkur Balaji temple for devotees. The temple will be closed from March 19 to 25.

Chief Priest of Chilkur temple, CS Rangarajan told NewsMeter, "We receive around 5000 devotees each day. With the number of people infected with Coronavirus increasing each day in the state we felt its better to close the temple. Though devotees won't be allowed the daily pooja practices will be continued."

The action comes after the state reporting its sixth positive case of Coronavirus.

As part of a preventive measure to check the spread of COVID-19 in the temple premises, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), on 17 March, had introduced time slot tokens. As part of a preventive measure to check the spread of COVID-19 in the temple premises, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), on 17 March, introduced time slot tokens. Devotees who visit the hill shrine with the special tokens will be allocated specific timings for darshan.

The Srikalahasti temple administration also imposed restrictions on darshan at the ancient Lord Shiva temple. The executive officer of the temple, C. Chandrasekhar Reddy, said the temple administration has suspended the entry of devotees to the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Kalahasteeswara Swamy and Gnana Prasoonambika Devi. They cannot witness even Abhisheka Sevas at the Srikalahasti temple. He said the Abhisheka Seva will be performed only by the priests of the temple. However, the temple’s famous Rahu-Ketu puja, that fetches huge revenue for the temple, will continue unchanged.

Several temples in the country have also decided to temporarily shut down as a preventive measure against Coronavirus. Temples such as Shirdi temple in Maharashtra, Swaminarayan sect, Siddhi Vinayak temple in Mumbai, Dagdusheth Halwai temple in Pune, and Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain have been temporarily shut down.