KOLKATA: The authorities of Kalighat temple reopened the gates to devotees on Tuesday, attracting a stream of visitors on the very first day.
The temple had been shut to visitors from May 15.
The number of devotees who visited the temple on the day of reopening was not alarming and everyone followed Covid-appropriate behaviour, a source said.
The gates of Kalighat temple will now be open for the devotees from 6am to noon.
“Depending on the situation, we will slowly open the gates in the evenings, too,” said a source.
Devotees buy flowers in front of Kalighat templeDakshineshwar Temple will reopen on Thursday, when Snan Yatra of Jagannath will be observed.
“It will be the foundation day of the temple and we propose to re-start that day.
We are making all arrangements to observe Covid-safety guidelines,” said spokesperson for Dakshineswar Kushal Chowdhury.
He said they were planning to open the gates twice during the day.
“We plan to allow visitors for three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening,” Chowdhury said.
Belurmath, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, will however remain closed for the time being and there are no plans to re-open yet, officials there said.
Iskcon Chandrodaya temple at Mayapur also reopened with restrictions on Tuesday.
The Mayapur temple had been locked from May 15 and only monks and resident devotees had been carrying out the essential work in the period.
Now, only 40 people were being allowed inside the mammoth temple hall at a time and they must wait or stand in marked circles, said spokesperson Subrata Das.
Sanitisation, masks and other safety guidelines are also being followed.
But there is no news of Iskcon Temple Kolkata on Albert Road reopening yet.
It has arranged for the puja of Jagannath inside its temple for Thursday’s Snan Yatra but people would not be allowed to attend the ritual because of the ongoing restrictions, said Radharaman Das, vice-president of Iskcon, Kolkata.
Both Tarakeswar and Tarapith temples have reopened.