Aurangabad, March 10:
Owning the Corona Crisis, the Shri Ghrushneshwar Temple will be closed for the first time during the Mahashivratri. The religious programmes will be conducted here in the presence of few people only.
The Corona patients are on a rise once again in the district. The administration has taken a decision to closed the temples while partial lockdown has been imposed in the district. Hence, for the first time, the Shri Ghrushneshwar Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas will remain closed for the devotees. Thousands of devotees throng this temple on the occasion of Mahashivratri every year. However, the temple will be closed on March 11, 12 and 13. The regular Puja and Palkhi Puja will be conducted in the temple premises in the presence of the priests only. A strict police bandobast has been deployed in this area, informed PI Sitaram Mehetre.
In order to avert the spread of Corona infection, the temple has been closed so that the devotees should not gather in crowd in the temple. The religious ceremonies will be help in the presence of only few people, informed the temple committee president, Shashank Topre.
Meanwhile, the number of tourists to the Ghrushneshwar Temple has decreased considerably and its impact is seen on the local businesses.