Velankanni church, Nagore dargah set to reopen today

Though the 10-day annual festival is going on at the Velankanni Basilica, the authorities appealed to devotees not to come to the holy town and watch the celebrations online till Tuesday. Earlier, the church authorities held a meeting with the district administration regarding the measures to the conduct the celebrations. Subsequently, the district administration announced that devotees from other districts and states would not be allowed to participate in any events in the Basilica till September 8.

Only locals would be allowed to attend the event from 8 am to 5.30 pm and all devotees coming to the church should wear masks and adhere to social distancing norms, Collector Parveen P Nair said in a statement.

Only priests and members from church administration would be permitted to participate in the car procession on Sept 7 and in the function to lower the holy flag on Sept 8. Hotels would remain closed till Sept 8 and access to beach is prohibited on these days.

Meanwhile the Nagore dargah administration had announced that it would open the doors for devotees on Wednesday as the arrangements were yet to be completed.

In Madurai, devotees waited in a long queue to have darshan of deities in Meenakshi temple. All devotees came with masks. Their hands were sanitised before allowed entry, which was restricted to East Gate alone, into the temple.

K. Chelladurai, Joint Commissioner of the temple, said until 1 pm around 1,500 devotees had darshan. Sources said over 2000 had darshan at Rameswaram temple

Lassington Fernando, member, parish council, Our Lady of Snows Shrine Basilica, Thoothukudi, worshippers offered prayers on their own at the Basilica, but prayer service is yet to be conducted.