Festive season: Udupi DC issues guidelines for temples

Udupi: Exhorting on the need to exercise caution as devotees will turn up in huge numbers at temples during the forthcoming festivals, Udupi Deputy Commissioner Dr G Jagadeesha listed guidelines to be followed at the religious places.

Speaking at a meeting held at the DC office here on Wednesday, Jagadeesha instructed temple administration to make box markings for visitors and to ensure that a distance af atleast six feet is maintained.

Covid norms such as face masks, thermal scanning, sanitisers at the entry point will have to be mandatorily followed.

Permission to provide daily community meals has been given only to those temples that had been following this practice earlier.

In case of huge devotee turnout at the temple, the administration can seek police assistance for effective crowd management.

A temporary ban on the conduct of annual temple festivals, Brahmakalashotsavas, etc will remain in place and priests can celebrate these occasions in a symbolic way, without the participation of the crowd.

Sub-divisional officers, tahsildar and police department have been directed to visit temples and ensure adherence of all the above-said norms. Legal action can be taken in case of violations, the DC warned.