Page 8 - Hakoba Times

8 The Indian Eye | NATION | JUNE 12, 2020

temple towns suffer as pilgrimages are called off

S GOpAl puri last week convened a high-lev-
Dharamshala el meeting to explore ways to
unlock the state where tourism
imachal Pradesh, the is one of the biggest sources of
north Indian state is economic activity. The industry
Hthe center of Bud- leaders present at the meeting,
dhist and Hindu pilgrimage for however, conveyed their unan-
the people across the globe. imous decision to remain shut.
COVID19 has dumped the The state government has
pilgrimage season and temple allowed the hotel industry to
towns are witnessing the worst start bookings, but with restric-
ever phase since independence tions on entertaining non-resi-
of India. The temples and mon- dent tourists from other states
asteries were never closed in and abroad. Locals or those
history for such a long period. travelling for official meetings,
Not even at the time of India business tie-ups and emergen-
– Pakistan partition or during shrine in Himachal. of the region till lockdown cies are the only ones allowed
India – China war. This north Indian state has announcement” said District to book rooms. The restaurants
Apart from massive busi- five major shrines. Monaster- Magistrate Rakesh Kumar Pra- can’t serve food but are allowed
ness, the temple towns gener- ies of senior Buddhist monks japati who looks after the af- ‘carry home’ service.
ate employment to the destitute are also located in this town. fairs of shrines in this state of The hoteliers in the state
and illiterate people also who The exile seat of Dalai Lama is India. Till the filling of this re- capital, tribal areas and other
cannot be employed by govern- located in Dharamshala (Mc- port temples and monasteries parts of the state have reject-
ment or private agencies in the leodganj) area of this state. were still closed, despite other ed the state government’s pro-
country. They get employment Government had ordered markets being thrown open for posed “quarantine tourism”
in the form of roadside vendors closure of these monasteries the public. Temples and mon- to ramp up the tourism sector
selling tea, flowers or other var- and temples without consider- asteries of Himachal have do- badly hit by the lockdown since
ious kinds of products. ing the fate of the poorest of nated above 10 crore rupees March 20.The Shimla Hotel
“We are not opening shops poor people like beggars and to the government to combat and Restaurant Association
despite the government hav- road side vendors who have no coronavirus. said “no” to the government’s
ing permitted open markets. access to banks or internet. Pil- Meanwhile, the hotel indus- quarantine tourism, allowing
There is no use, we don’t get grimage season used to be on try has decided to keep out of the outsiders to stay in hotels
local customers. Only pilgrims, peak from March end to the business until at least Septem- for 14-day long quarantine.
devotees used to come to our beginning of July month till the ber, given that the inter-state The Lahaul and Spiti Hoteliers’
shops” said Sonia Sharma, beginning of the rainy season. borders, the principal gate- Association, along with other
who is a widow having a single Lockdown was announced way of mobility to Himachal, public bodies and panchayats
daughter pursuing education in on March 21. are still closed for tourists and in the tribal belt, have already
Chandigarh. She runs a shop “Nearly one lakh people outsiders. Himachal Tourism locked the valley for outsiders,
of souvenirs near Brajeshwari have arrived in various shrines Secretary Devesh Kumar had including tourists.

Beginning of the erA of virtuAl prAyer Ceremonies

OVID19 has made temple au- ilies do this ritual at home by imagining
thorities learn the way to orga- nine girls. They also asked people to feed
Cnize virtual prayers and spiritual cows nearby. But the majority of the peo-
ceremonies. Almost every temple took ple opted for video calls to worship girls.
to their social media platforms to hold The websites offering this service have
virtual prayers. advertised themselves from various medi-
Navaratris, the nine auspicious days ums. Fee charged by these sites was 1100
to appease goddess, have been severely rupees. “Girls will be worshiped on your
affected by global scare of COVID19. behalf by offering apples, oranges, pack-
It concluded during the first week of ets of salted snacks and biscuits. Meals
April this year. Navaratris concludes by couldn’t take place. Few websites offered and a packet of ‘parhsad’ will also be
the ritual of ‘Kanya Pujan’ held by wor- this service online. Hindu families opted there” the online sites mentioned.
shiping nine young girls as nine forms of for video calls and other online platforms Meanwhile, the Tibetan Spiritual lead-
Goddess Durga. for this ritual. er Dalai Lama also hosted online teach-
But due to lock-down the same Temple priests requested Hindu fam- ings for the devotees across the globe.

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