As Coronavirus cases have been rising in Maharashtra lately, the Siddhivinayak Temple trust has once again suspended offline darshan for devotees starting from Thursday, February 25, 2021.
According to the latest reports, people will now have to compulsorily book their darshan online and show a QR code to enter temple premises. The temple administration will allow devotees to enter the shrine only after scanning the QR code at the entry point. The timings for darshan will be from 8 AM till 9 PM.
If visitors fail to make online booking, they can do offline registration at the counter located outside the temple premises. Only visitors with normal body temperature will be allowed to enter the temple. At the same time, the temple authorities have made wearing of masks and social distancing mandatory to restrict the spread of COVID strain.
The temple trust has reportedly asked citizens to help the authorities by following rules and using the online booking service for Siddhivinayak darshan.
The decision has been announced ahead of Angaraki Sankashti Chaturthi which will be celebrated on March 2. It is a festival dedicated to Mars and Lord Ganesha celebrated to commemorate the boon bestowed by the elephant-trunked deity. Ganesha temples throughout India remain packed with devotees on this day.
The Siddhivinayak Temple has taken the call to limit large gatherings on the directives issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), dated February 18, to control the spread of COVID.