VIJAYAWADA: With the Covid-19 positivity rate in the state hovering around 2%, the endowments department has decided to restart Sarva Darshana (free darshan) at temples across the state. Free darshan resumed at Srisailam temple from Wednesday, in keeping with Covid-19 guidelines.
Temples across the state were closed in May and June due to the second wave of Covid-19. As many as 60 staffers working at the Kanaka Durga temple alone tested positive for Covid-19 and two of them succumbed to the pandemic.
When endowments authorities reopened temples in June, only a limited number of devotees were permitted. Temple authorities were directed to permit devotees with online darshan tickets while free darshan was stalled. Arjita Seva was also performed online mode as a preventive measure.
The flow of devotees continued in July despite restrictions by endowments officials. At Simhachalam, Dwaraka Tirumala, Annavaram and Mopidevi temples, a rush of devotees was registered from the second week of August on account of Sravana Maasam and endowments authorities conducted a review on relaxing darshan timings and Arjita Sevas.
“We have received hundreds of requests from devotees to permit free darshan. The health department gave reports that the Covid-19 positivity rate is under control. So we have decided to permit free darshan. Tokens will be issued for free darshan and only a limited number of devotees will be permitted. We are also thinking of issuing free darshan tokens online,” endowments minister Vellampalli Srinivas told TOI.
Covid-19 protocols should be strictly followed at temples and spots for queues will be sanitised every hour, the minister added.
