Temples in Ayodhya to reopen from June 1, devotees urged to follow COVID safety norms

Since there is a significant decline in new cases of coronavirus infection these days, the authorities have decided to open the temples for the public gradually.

NEW DELHI: In the wake of declining coronavirus cases in the country, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to open all major temples in the holy city of Ayodhya from June 1. However, the leading seers of Ayodhya have made an appeal to the devotees coming for 'darshan' to strictly follow the COVID-19 guidelines and safety protocols put in place by the Centre and the state government. The saints have urged the devotees to come for ‘darshan’ only after getting vaccinated. Besides, the devotees will have to mandatorily were a face mask and regularly sanitise their hands before entering the holy shrines and other religious places. The Ayodhya district authorities have also decided to allow only five devotees at a time for 'darshan' inside the temples with strict adherence to COVID norms. It may be recalled that the doors of all major temples in Ayodhya were closed before the festival of Ramnavami in the wake of a massive surge in coronavirus cases in the state.