New Delhi (NVI): Tamil Nadu government today announced that all places of worship with an annual income below Rs 10,000 in the corporation areas will be re-opened for devotees from August 10.
The state government also said that the standard operating procedures (SOP) should be followed inside the temple premises.
With the coronavirus spread under control in Chennai and parts of Tamil Nadu, chief minister K Palaniswami announced relaxations in the lockdown restrictions.
“Permission to open the temples should be sought from the respective District Collectors. As far as Chennai is concerned, permission should be sought from Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner,” he said.
Notably, the state government has already allowed the temples with annual revenue of less than Rs 10,000 outside the corporation limits to open for devotees from August 1.
The rules include prohibition for physical offerings like prasadam, distribution or sprinkling of holy water inside the religious place. During poojas and abhishekam, the public must not be allowed to sit inside and witness the event, according to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
Apart from small temples, mosques, darghas, churches and other religious places in rural areas would also be opened for public worship in Tamil Nadu from August 10.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu has reported 119 COVID-19 fatalities in last 24 hours, the highest in a single-day so far, taking the death toll to 4,690.
The coronavirus case count in the state touched 2,85,024, the third-highest number of coronavirus cases in the country.
-RJV
