Shirdi (Ahmednagar): The famous Shri Sai Baba Samadhi temple in Shirdi, Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra will be closed for devotees from April 5 following new restrictions imposed by the state government in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra.
As per the directives issued by the state government on Sunday, religious places will remain closed. Accordingly, the Sai Baba temple was shut at 8 pm on Monday. Ravindra Thakare, the Chief Executive Officer of the Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir Sansthan, said that other rituals will continue during lockdown but devotees will not be allowed.
Also read: Maha: AEC takes gangster Lakdawala into custody in extortion case
The famed temple is thronged by devotees from all over the country throughout the year. It is one of the most popular religious places and therefore the temple premises remain crowded. But following the onset of the pandemic the temple was closed on March 17, 2020. The government issued a notification to open the temples for devotees on November 14, 2020, but restrictions and protocols remained. Accordingly, the Sai Baba temple in Shirdi too was opened on November 16, 2020.
However, there has been a consistent rise in Covid-19 cases in the state since the last few weeks and therefore the government has put a ban on gatherings at religious or public places.
Also read: Court dismisses Kangana's plea over Akhtar defamation suit
Online booking and prasadalaya closed
The temple management has conveyed that online booking for darshan on the temple website will not be available. Prasadalaya, lodging and boarding facilities run by the temple management will also be closed for devotees. But the temple will continue to prepare meals for the Covid positive patients in the prasadalaya. The routine pooja and other rituals will go on inside the temple during this period.
Also read: Dilip Walse Patil takes charge of Maharashtra home ministry
These restrictions will remain until the government issues fresh directives. The management is conveying the information to devotees through email and via telephone. The website has also been updated accordingly, the management said. CEO of the Sansthan Ravindra Thakare appealed to the devotees to cooperate during the pandemic.
