Devotees in India break coronavirus rules to offer prayers, bathe in rivers on auspicious Monday
Record ID:
1630169
Devotees in India break coronavirus rules to offer prayers, bathe in rivers on auspicious Monday
- Title: Devotees in India break coronavirus rules to offer prayers, bathe in rivers on auspicious Monday
- Date: 2nd August 2021
- Summary: VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 02, 2021) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) TOP VIEW OF CROWD OF DEVOTEES WITHOUT MASKS BATHING IN HOLY GANGES RIVER DEVOTEES WITH FLOWER OFFERINGS IN THEIR HANDS, STANDING IN THE RIVER VARIOUS OF DEVOTEES WITHOUT MASKS AT RIVERBANK DEVOTEES WITHOUT MASKS BATHING IN RIVER (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DEVOTEE, SHIVANSH, SAYING: "This is Varanasi, home of Shiva (Hindu Lord of Destruction) and everyone has come here to offer prayers. We have his blessings so, coronavirus is nothing." DEVOTEES STANDING CLOSE TO EACH OTHER IN QUEUE OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE TEMPLE VARIOUS OF DEVOTEES WITHOUT MASKS STANDING CLOSE TO EACH OTHER IN QUEUE AND CHANTING DEVOTEES MOVING IN QUEUE DEVOTEES CHANTING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) PRIEST, PRHALAJ PANDEY, SAYING: "What is the fear of coronavirus? Who is greater than Lord Shiva? We have Shiva's blessings. People should wear masks and come as masks are important. They should practice social distancing and maintain distance. This is the bank of river Ganges so, people are not getting it (distancing rules) despite telling them." GORAKHPUR, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 02, 2021) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) VARIOUS OF DEVOTEES, SOME WITHOUT MASKS PRAYING AT THE TEMPLE EARTHEN LAMPS BURNING VARIOUS OF DEVOTEES WITHOUT MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING OFFERING PRAYERS AT THE TEMPLE VARIOUS OF DEVOTEES OFFERING WATER AND LEAVES TO 'SHIVALINGAM' (PHALLUS REPRESENTATION OF HINDU GOD OF DESTRUCTION SHIVA) DEVOTEES IN TEMPLE DEVOTEES COMING INSIDE THE TEMPLE (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DEVOTEE, KUSUM GUPTA, SAYING: "Today is the second Monday of ' Shravan' (holy Hindu month of monsoon). We offer prayers using bhel leaves and flowers. We pray for the prosperity of our family and the safety of the lives of our husbands. We go to the temples and fast on Mondays (during 'Sharavan')." UJJAIN, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 02, 2021) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) TEMPLE VARIOUS OF PRIEST PUTTING ASH ON IDOL OF SHIVALINGAM' (PHALLUS REPRESENTATION OF HINDU GOD OF DESTRUCTION SHIVA AS THEY PERFORM 'BHASMA AARTI' EMPTY TEMPLE PRIEST PERFORMING 'AARTI' (HINDU HOLY RITUAL OF LIGHT) EMPTY TEMPLE PRIEST SINGING AND PERFORMING AARTI EMPTY TEMPLE
- Embargoed: 16th August 2021 07:55
- Keywords: Gorakhpur India Monday Ujjain Varanasi coronavirus coronavirus protocols crowd devotees health lockdown pandemic temple
- Location: VARANASI, GORAKHPUR, UTTAR PRADESH/ UJJAIN, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA
- City: VARANASI, GORAKHPUR, UTTAR PRADESH/ UJJAIN, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001EOL63IN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A huge crowd of devotees flouted coronavirus norms as they thronged temples in India's temple town of Varanasi on Monday (August 02) to offer prayers to the Hindu god of destruction, Lord Shiva during the 'Sharavan' month (holy Hindu month of monsoon).
Banks of the holy Ganges River were flooded and temples packed with devotees as they chose not to wear masks and follow social distancing rules despite a lockdown being imposed in the town.
The weekend lockdown in the city was shifted from Saturday and Sunday to Sunday and Monday to avoid crowding during the holy month. However, the lockdown had no impact on the devotees who said they were not scared of the virus.
"This is Varanasi, home of Shiva (Hindu Lord of Destruction) and everyone has come here to offer prayers. We have his blessings so, coronavirus is nothing," said a devotee, Shivansh.
In Gorakhpur city, only a few devotees wore masks as they prayed in temples.
With no devotees at Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in India's central Ujjain city, priests performed 'Bhasma Aarti, wherein priests sprinkled ashes on Shivalingam'(phallus representation of Hindu god of destruction Shiva) on an auspicious day.
India reported 40,134 new cases of the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, a government statement said on Monday.
Deaths rose by 422 in the same period, according to the federal health ministry. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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