Shimla, Sep 21
The state’s main Hindu Shrines have recorded devotees footfall of as many as 48958  people who visited the 20 main shrines falling under Temple Trust Acts. Special arrangements were being made for Navratri festival begining in the month of October, confirmed Director of Language, Art and Culture Department Kumud Singh.
Himachal Pradesh Language, Art and Culture Department which caters for the arrangements of as many as 35 temples trusts in the state claimed that state recorded increase in the footfall of tourists and people are following the SOPs during their visits.
No one is allowed to perform  pooja in the sacrosanctum and organise langar for the visitors to maintain social distancing in wake of Covid pandemic. Chintpurni Temple in Una district recorded highest footfall of 10615 devotees in the last ten days as State Government decided to open the gate of all shrines on Sep 10 after remaining closed for early six months since March 25 this year.
ShrI Naina Devi Temple in Bilaspur recorded 7654 deveotees, Jawalamukhi temple in Kangra district 4074 Hanuman temple Jakhoo Shimla 3366, Shiv Mandir Baijnath in Kangra district 2873, Shri Mahamaya Bala Sunderi Ji Trilokpur Mandir in Sirmaur 2698, Bababalaknath 2552 and Durga Matta Temple Hatkoti in Jubbal in Shimla- 2495.
Chamunda Nandikeshwar  Mandir in Kangra district recorded footfall of 2292, Tara Devi Temple at Shimla district 2193,  Brajeshwar Devi Temple Kangra 1801, Shri Sankatmochan Temple Shimla -1543, Shri Makhal Mandir Baijnath, 1100, bhimaKali temple 1005, Hanogi Mata Mandir Aut in Mandi 927, Shiv Bharati Shanidave Temple Hamipur 770.
Shahtalai Temple Bilaspur 501, Shulani Mata Mandir Solan 199 and Durga Temple Sharai Koti Teh Rampur in Shimla 218, Dattatreya Swamy Temple Duttnagar Shimla district 31 and Mahamrityunjaya Temple Mandi town 11 .
A letter have been sent to all deputy commissioner and temple officers of shrines asking them to organise Navratri festivals which include Yajana or Worship in the small group of ten to 15 peoples as per SOPs issued by the state Government.
