Today is Maha Shivratri. It has also been a year since the pandemic began affecting people’s lives and when the situation worsened, a lockdown was imposed which prohibited the masses from moving out of their homes. Corona virus came and stood between deity and the devotees, the temples had to be closed, too.

After a long span, the public places were re-opened and this was when the people heaved a sigh of relief. They could feel the satisfaction of visiting the temples BUT the virus hit back with a vengeance and started showing its effect. This resulted in a rise in the infection and the administration had to take strict decisions.

Today once again people will have to make do with online darshans as temples will not be opened since mass gatherings cannot be avoided on this festive occasion. If the public starts collecting at one place, the chain of the virus will multiply probably taking more lives than before.

The Mahakaleshwar Temple is providing online darshans at 10:15 a.m., 12:15 noon and 7 p.m. Entry has been prohibited in the temples until March 12. People can merely take a look from a distance and pay their respect but there is no possibility of entering the temples. All other temples in the region will also follow the same.

It is advised that devotees be extremely careful and not rush to the temples as chances of getting infected in crowd are much higher.