Unlock 1: Devotees offer prayers at temples and mosques as religious places reopen

As religious places across country reopen from Monday following Centre's guidelines on Unlock-1 amid Coronavirus, people from different faiths offered prayers at ir respective places of worship.  entry to all religious places will be in accordance with  Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by Union Home Ministry to prevent spre of contagion. As per Ministry of Health guidelines, touching of holy books, choir/singing groups are t allowed.

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Devotees were seen arriving at Sri Bangla Sahib Gurudwara in Delhi to offer prayers. Worshipers also gared at Gauri Shankar Temple in Chandni Chowk, Delhi to offer prayers. Furr people also were seen visiting Kalka Ji Temple in Delhi and offering ir prayers. All religious institutions across country were kept closed for more than two months to curb virus spre.

Devotees also queued outside Shree Dodda Ganapathi Temple at Basavanagudi to offer prayers on Bengaluru. 

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Prayers were also offered at Eidgah Mosque by people. "People are happy that all religious places are reopening today. People in group of five at a time performed namaz for Fajar. We have measured temperature of people before y entered mosque and provided sanitizer," Maulana Khalid Rashid, Imam, Eidgah told ANI.

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Earlier, Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that religious places and places of worship for public, hotels, restaurants and or hospitality services along with shopping malls will be permitted to open from June 8. However, se facilities will t be able to resume operations inside containment zones designated by authorities in states, said a government tification.

Phase-wise reopening

Centre anunced an extension of nationwide- Coronavirus lockdown in containment zones till June 30. Termed as 'Unlock 1,' Ministry of Home Affairs issued a new set of guidelines, as per which various restrictions will be lifted in three phases. However, onus to implement relaxations has been put on state governments.

In Phase 1:  Religious places and all places of worship for public, Hotels, restaurants and hospitality services and all shopping malls will be permitted to re-open from June 8 onwards. 

In Phase 2: Schools, Colleges, educational/training/coaching institutions will be opened after consultation with respective states and Union Territories. decision on re-opening of se institutions will be taken in month of July based on feedback of parents and or stakeholders. 

In Phase 3: Decision will be taken on reopening of International air travel, operation of metro rail, cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, atres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls, social/ Political/ sports/ entertainment/ acemic/ cultural/ religious functions and or large congregations.

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(With inputs from ncy)