Pune: On the occasion of Angarki Sankashti Chaturthi, devotees congregated outside Pune’s Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Mandir, to offer their prayers.
Darshan is being allowed only from outside as the temple has been kept closed due to a rise in Covid-19 cases in the city.
The administration has appealed to people to follow all covid-related norms strictly. Along with the temple, all the shops around the premises remained closed for 24 hours.
All the rituals will be conducted under the presence of priests inside the temple, but no general public has been allowed to enter the temple. However, devotees can take e-darshan on the given link dagdushethganpati.com.
“Footfall of around 3 to 4 lakh devotees is expected every year so it is better to keep the temple closed looking at the rising number of covid patients in the city,” said Ashok Godse, president of Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Public Ganpati Trust.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra has reported 6,397 new COVID-19 cases, 5,754 recoveries and 30 deaths in the last 24-hours, the State Health Department informed on Monday.
In view of the spike in COVID-19 cases in the city, the district administration on Sunday extended the night curfew and shutdown of schools till March 14. Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had directed senior officials to take strict action against people or organisations who flout Covid-19 guidelines.