Image Courtesy: mumbailive.com

No devotees will be allowed to enter the landmark shrines, the Haji Ali Dargah and the Mahim Dargah in Mumbai, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was announced on Thursday, reported The Economic Times.

The decision was taken post the announcement of the Maharashtra government to avoid crowding in public spaces as a precautionary measure to stop the transmission of the Coronavirus, said Suhail Khandwani, Managing Trustee of Mahim Dargah and a Trustee of the Haji Ali Dargah.

Khandwani said, “We were discussing the issue with various authorities for the past few days. The decision was necessary in interest of the city. People’s lives are of paramount importance."

Both the shrines are famous for attracting Muslim and non-Muslim devotees every year.

Following the government’s advisory to control the pandemic, many religious organizations throughout the country have either closed down for a few days or are limiting the number of devotees and ensuring sanitization facilities in the premises to ensure their safety.

In Mumbai, the famous Siddhivinayak Temple, Mahalakshmi Temple and ISKCON temple have already closed doors to devotees until March 31 for now.

Also, the Catholic Archbishop of Mumbai announced the suspension of Novena services at St. Michael Church, Mahim, until further orders.

While the Parsi community called off celebrations to commemorate Avaroz last Sunday, the Dawoodi Bohra Community too has shut the mausoleum of their religious leaders Syedna Taher Saifuddin and Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin at Bhendi Bazaar as a precautionary measure, reported Hindustan Times.

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