VIJAYAWADA: The Kanaka Durga temple management has decided to cancel Antaralaya Darshan (entry into sanctum sanctorum) from Thursday following the Covid-19 guidelines.
A few of the temple priests and staff tested positive in recent days and temple authorities are focusing on containment. Executive officer Bramarambha conducted a review meeting on the Covid-19 situation prevailing at the temple. Officials explained that the staff monitoring queue lines and prasadam counter are getting infected with Covid-19.
The executive officer passed orders making thermal screening a must at queues and cancelled distribution of free prasadam. Shatari and theertham (holy water) will not be offered to the devotees as it increases the risk of Covid-19 spread.
Annadanam (free food donation) was also cancelled considering the Covid-19 situation and Arjita Sevas will be performed with half strength. Holy dip in Krishna river was also prohibited.
The temple trust board said that only a limited number of devotees should be permitted darshan every day and the time slot system should be reintroduced.
Endowments minister Vellampalli Srinivas directed temple authorities to take precautionary measures at temples to prevent spread of Covid-19.
