Halesi Temple open after COVID-19 cases subside

DIKTEL: SEPT. 14 – The Halesi Temple closed for four months has been opened since Monday in the wake of a decline in coronavirus infection. The meeting of the District COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre (DCCMC) had decided to open the religious site, also known as Pashupatinath in the east, on Sunday.

Executive Director of Halesi Development Committee, Samar Bahadur Bhujel, informed that the temple was opened publicly for worshipping but with strict adherence to safety protocol.

The temple was earlier closed for the public and limited to morning and evening puja in a bid to contain the coronavirus. The devotees and pilgrims had to worship from the main gate as it was closed for four months.

Chief District Officer Mitralal Sharma said all sorts of rituals as daily puja, prayers, hymns, Kalash procession, sacrifice puja are allowed now. “Those entering the temple must abide by the health and safety protocol. For its enforcement, police have been mobilized,” he added.

Currently, there are only 55 active cases of coronavirus in the district having 10 local levels, according to Chief of District Health Office, Punya Prasad Sigdel. The second wave of the coronavirus took the lives of 15 persons in the district while the number of total infected persons reached 2,926.

The arrangement has been made to ensure anti-COVID-19 vaccines to all eligible people from all 10 local levels.