Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 2: Fisheries minister, S Angara, said that temples including Goddess Durga Parameshwari in Kateel, Lord Gokarnanatheswara and Goddess Mangaladevi temp0les in the city can celebrate Navaratri festival this year too based on the guidelines issued by the district administration last year.

He was speaking after presiding over the meeting of the district religious council held in the city on Friday October 1 relating to Navaratri festival celebrations in the district.

"The district administrative had issued certain guidelines last year about the celebration of Navaratri in the light of the prevailing situation. Temple managements and particularly the devotees by and large had stuck to the guidelines. If the third coronavirus wave hits, the possibility of imposing lockdown in the district again cannot be ruled out. Therefore, we have to draw our own lines and follow the norms to ensure that the situation does not vitiate," Angara advised.

He told the temple managements to create awareness among the visiting devotees about the advantages of getting vaccinated. He advised them to organize vaccination camps in association with the district administration.

Deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, Dr K V Rajendra, asked the people to strictly adhere to the corona guidelines when paying obeisance at the temple and offering services there. He reminded the people that wearing of masks is mandatory and maintaining social distance is the responsibility of everyone. He also called upon the temples to collect plastic waste and cooperate with the concerned to dispose them of, in view of the fact that Swachh Bharat campaign is being undertaken in the district from October 2 onward. He advised them to make use of the services of the devotees and volunteers for this task.

Mangaluru Urban Development Authority chairman Ravishankar Maijar, Dr Kishore, Giriprasad and others were present.