Religious places reopen in Maharashtra, devotees show up in strong numbers

As the government allowed religious places to open across the state on Thursday temples mosques churches and others in the city saw a good turnout The managements of the religious places used the opportunity to sensitise devotees to follow Covid19 safety norms and get vaccinated against it The devotees though were only happy to visit the religious places after monthsDevotees at Hazrat Makhdoom Ali Shah Mahimi Dargah at Mahim PicSomita PalSujata Shetty 48 visited the Mahalaxmi Temple with her sisterinlaw Sukanya ldquoWe were excited that temples were open on day 1 of navratri We didnrsquot want to miss the opportunity and camerdquo said Shetty The duo didnrsquot know about the compulsory registration to visit Mahalaxmi temple Luckily along with a few who also werent registered they were allowed inside after pleas to the security guards ldquoThey allowed us inside since it was day 1 and we were fasting They said next time remember to be registered Thank God we didnrsquot have to return home without darshanrdquo said Shetty who stays in ChemburPandemic protocolsDevotees were checked at the entrance for the registration followed by thermal screening and oximetre reading The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC has kept an antigen screening desk inside the Mahalaxmi temple which is manned by their staffers ldquoIn an hour there are 400500 devotees The temple is open from 6 am to 10 pm We have made online registration a must to visit the temple We have CCTVs to monitor people and an announcement system to sensitise them to maintain social distance and follow Covid19 protocolsrdquo said Devendra Parab security incharge Mahalaxmi templeA man prays at the St Michaelrsquos Church at Mahim on Thursday PicSomita PalFlower vendors inside the temple premises were also happy Shatrughan Paswan one of the vendors said ldquoThe pandemic has killed our livelihood I am glad that the temples have now been opened Today we had a decent business as it was day 1 of navratri and people are coming to the templerdquo The temple has stopped distributing prasad for the time beingLike Mahalaxmi Temple Siddhivinayak Temple in Dadar too has made online registration compulsory for the devotees to visit Snehal Kadam a banker who works opposite the temple asked his wife to bring their two children for darshan ldquoI last visited the temple in March I never thought I would have to take an online appointment with God but it is actually better as there is no crowd and you get to see the God peacefullyrdquo he said ldquoThe only regret is because of Covid19 we didnrsquot get prasad or to offer flowers to our beloved godrdquo he addedPeople visit the Siddhivinayak temple for darshan on Thursday PicAshish RajeAdesh Bandekar president of Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust said it has an app through which people can prebook and get QR Codes ldquoOnly 250 devotees will be issued the QR code every hour for darshanrdquo he saidRestricted entrySt Michaelrsquos Church Mahim which is known for Novenas on Wednesdays started the day with their usual two morning masses ldquoWe have a capacity of 1200 Our morning masses saw 4550 people coming We have kept sanitisers and the seating arrangement is made keeping in mind social distancing Our volunteers supervise and help the devoteesrdquo said Oswal Rodrigues 68 supervisor at the ChurchldquoNovenas and Sunday masses see a huge turnout We have therefore decided to continue Wednesday Novena prayers online People are however allowed to come to the church and pray On Sundays for the mass only 200 people will be allowedrdquo said Father Bernard Lancy Pinto He said we will have to learn to live with Covid19 and follow appropriate behaviour and get vaccinatedWomen enter the Mahim dargah PicsSomita PalMahim Dargah also saw a huge turnout ldquoWe have been waiting for the dargah to open It gives us peace to be here My mother was not well and we prayed that once she gets well and the day dargah opens we will visit Today I came with my mother and familyrdquo said Munira Patel a resident of GhatkoparOswal Rodrigues 68 supervisor at the St Michaelrsquos Church with Francis Menezes and Albert Ralf volunteersThe management is also using the opportunity to encourage people to take vaccines ldquoWe have a badge with a dargah photo and an lsquoI am Covid19 vaccinatedrsquo message All our volunteers and security guards have taken vaccines and wear the badge We will help devotees get the vaccine and give them the badgersquordquo said Gulam Ali Naik manager Mahim Dargah trust He said the trust has been sensitising the community on vaccination