Janmashtami celebrated amid COVID-19 restrictions

New Delhi/Mathura/Mumbai, Aug 12 (PTI) massive crowds of devotees in temples, elaborately decorated tableaus and Dahi Handi revelry were all missing this year on Janmashtami, birthday of Lord Krishna, as celebrations were dampened by COVID-19 restrictions.

Amid blowing of conch shells and beating of drums, priests offered prayers since early morning in temples but re were special religious discourses, 'Krishnalila' dance dramas and community kitchens as entry of devotees had been eir banned or restricted due to coronavirus pandemic.

rituals were, however, streamed online from some temples. In rth India, families usually observe a day-long fast and hold special prayers at midnight.

Tight security arrangements were made outside main temples to ensure that people followed social distancing.

festivities were also relatively low-key in main temples of Mathura, birth place of Lord Krishna, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, Mahaban and Baldeo, which are usually visited by lakhs of pilgrims on occasion.

Soaked in religious fervour, devotees would throng decked-up temples and take out colourful processions to mark birth of Lord Krishna, but like or festivals in COVID-19 times, rituals have been restricted on Janmashtami too in country.

Though entry of devotees was banned, a large number of people assembled outside Sri Krishna Janmasthan in Mathura and greeted each or with chants of Lord Krishna.

temples of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which celebrate festival in a grand maner and attract large congregations, also allowed only a limited number of devotees.

In national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia prayed at ISKCON temple in East of Kailash.

"This year devotees were restricted in numbers due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Also, jhanki (tableau) of Lord Sri Krishna could t be readied due to unavailability of special craftsmen based in Kolkata," a temple spokesman said.

Groups which organise Dahi Handi festivities in Mumbai and or parts of Maharashtra opted for low-key celebration unlike in past years when massive crowds would gar to cheer Govinda squads.

se youngsters would move around city in processions, make human pyramids and break pots filled with butter or curd, which are hung at a considerable height, to win prize money.

It is inspired by tale of Lord Krishna's boyhood trick of stealing butter from a suspended earn pot.

Adhering to social distancing guidelines, Dahi Handi mandals did t form human pyramids this year.

Instead, y carried out health and social welfare drives, like blood donation camps and removal of plastic, organisers said.

Dahi handis were being broken in a symbolic manner with those involved maintaining social distance and wearing masks.

Ram Kadam, BJP MLA from Ghatkopar in Mumbai, said in rmal times, his mandals Dahi Handi celebration saw five to six lakh footfalls.

"Ours was biggest Dahi Handi celebration in India in rmal times. But this year, we celebrated in a very simple manner, observing social distancing given COVID-19 crisis.

human pyramid was formed. A child climbed atop a table and broke Dahi Handi to mark festival in a symbolic manner," Kadam said.

"This year, we gave a mess of boycotting Chinese products and working for an aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) India," he said.

Bala Padalkar, chief of Dahi Handi Utsav Samanvay Samiti, an umbrella body of over 950 mandals (groups) in state, told PTI that enthusiasm was t same this year and members of various mandals agreed t to travel in city to break dahi handis.

In Rajasthan, famous Khatu Shyam temple was closed after eight people were found infected in nearby area last night, according to officials.

A nearly 350-year-old tradition of 21-gun salute at Rasala Chow will continue, Public Relations Officer of Srinath temple in Nathdwara, Girish Kumar, said.

idols of Lord Krishna and Radha were adorned with ornaments made of gold and precious stones, collectively worth around Rs eight crore, at a temple in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior.

Devotees were t allowed to enter temple- Gopal Mandir, located in Phool Bagh area of city- this year in view of COVID-19 pandemic, but TVs were installed outside premises for m to watch decorated idols.

se ornaments, donated by Scindias, erstwhile royal family of Gwalior, are brought out only on occasion of Krishna Janmashtami every year to beautify idols.

In Uttar Pradesh, devotees assembled outside Sri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan in Mathura, and as soon as y heard drums and sound of clarinet, y greeted each or with oud chants, temple secretary Kapil Sharma said

Bathing ceremony of deity - Abhishekam' - was performed with milk, curd, honey, ghee and khandsari.

rmally after 'Abhishekam', 'Charnamrit' is distributed among devotees in Radha Raman Temple, Radha Damodar Temple and Shah Ji Temple.

However, re was distribution of 'Charnamrit' in Radha Damodar and Shah Ji temples this year since priests have expressed ir inability to control crowds.

A large number of devotees, refore, gared outside Radha Raman temple Vrindaban and 'Charnamrit' was distributed among for over one hour, while ensuring that devotees maintain social distancing and wear masks, Padmanabha Goswami, secretary of temple, said.

A heavy police contingent had been posted at entrance of main temples in Mathura to prevent entry of devotees, District Magistrate Sarvagya Ram Mishra said.

'Dadhikana', an annual ritual to mark arrival of Krishna in Gokul on next day after Janmashtami, has been cancelled this year owing to coronavirus pandemic.

festival was celebrated in some parts of country on Tuesday.

Amid chants of vedic hymns, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath celebrated Janmashtami at Gorakhnath temple on Tuesday night, temple manr Dwarika Tiwari said.

On Wednesday morning, chief minister visited a cow shelter in premises of Gorakhnath temple after taking blessings of Mahant Digvijaynath and Mahant Avaidyanath.

Bal Krishna Sajja competition was t organised this year due to COVID-19 pandemic, Tiwari added.

With people being apprehensive about venturing into markets for festival shopping due to raging coronavirus pandemic, businesses too have taken a hit.

Several artisans who make clay models of Lord Krishna and stitch dresses for idols incurred losses.

Navin Paul, a clay modeller at Kumartuli in Kolkata said, "I made around 40 small idols of Lord Krishna but mand to sell just 10. I don't kw what to do with rest."

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and or leaders have greeted people on Janmashtami.

In his mess, President Kovind appreciated efforts of all corona warriors who are at forefront of country's fight against COVID-19, according to an official statement.

Lord Shri Krishna inspires us to establish a society that is just, sensitive and compassionate. His mess of Karmayoga is a call to focus on our responsibilities rar than caring for rewards. This spirit has been evident in working of all our corona warriors who act at forefront of our fight against COVID-19, he said.