KOLKATA: All 600 monks and workers inside Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, have received their first vaccine doses.
All those above 60 have taken both.
Instructions have been given by the RKM headquarters to all its centres in Bengal to complete vaccination for monks and others who live on the different campuses by June 15, to coincide with the outer limit of the present restrictions.
All 280 monks and brahmacharis of Iskcon Kolkata have also received their first jabs.
On the Mayapur campus, the headquarters of the Iskcon order, 300 monks and brahmacharis have received their first jabs at two camps that were held on campus.
The rest will receive their shots before June 15, it was said.
The Kalighat Temple Committee, too, has made it mandatory for all priests, sevayats and workers who enter the temple daily for pujas and other work, to get vaccinated while Dakshnineswar Temple authorities are in talks with a hospital so that vaccination for priests and sevayats can be done by June 15.
Dakshineswar Kali Temple trustee Kushal Chowdhury said negotiations have been carried out with the hospital that the temple has a tie-up with.
“All our monks, brahmacharis and other inmates have been vaccinated.
We have asked our other centres to complete the process soon.
We have to spread the message of vaccination since this is the only way forward.
The last camp was held on Sunday,” said Swami Suvirananda, general secretary of the RKM.
In some other centres of RKM, too, like Mayer Bari at Bagbazar and Swami Vivekananda’s house on Vivekananda Road, all monks and inmates have been vaccinated.
“Some have received the first jab while others have got both,” said Swami Jnanalokananda, secretary of Swamiji’s house.
“We have ensured that all 80 monks and 200 sevayats of Iskcon Kolkata have received at least one dose.
They will receive the second jab on time too.
Though the temple is closed to the public at present, we have to continue with our puja and other activities inside.
So we cannot afford to infect each other,” said Radharaman Das, Iskcon Kolkata vice-president.
“In two camps at Mayapur, 300 monks and brahmacharis were vaccinated.
Very few are left now and the process will be completed by June 15,” said Subrata Das, spokesperson of Iskcon Mayapur.
Bidyut Haldar, vice-president of the Kalighat Temple Committee, said he had given instructions that no one would be allowed inside the temple even for essential work if they do not get vaccinated.
“I can only talk about the priests and the sevayats, not the pandas who are not an immediate part of our system.
For the second jab, I am trying to book slots with the KMC.
Even this will be done on time,” he said.
Bengal: Most priests, workers in temples get first jab
