Well-known temples ready with doctors and flu scanners

While, local ones leave it to God for protection

While, local ones leave it to God for protection

Seems, the swine flu has got the gods too.

Temple authorities fear the virus scare may affect the footfall of devotees for Janmashtami celebrations today.
"Last year more than 10 lakh people visited the Iskcon temple on Janmashtami. But this year we fear many will stay home for the fear of contracting the H1N1 virus.

And, then there was light: The Birla Mandir at Mandir Marg in New Delhi shimmering with lights and decorations on the eve of Janmashtami on Thursday evening.u00a0PIC/IMTIYAZ KHAN

Though we are expecting six to seven lakh devotees as part of celebrations, tight security for Independence Day may also affect the footfall," said Vrajendra Nandan Das, national communication director, Iskcon. The Iskcon temple near East of Kailash is one of the most visited spots on Janmashtami.

Divine caution

Meanwhile, keeping in mind the large crowds Janmashtami celebrations attract, temple authorities are arming themselves to avert the spread of the flu. "We will not distribute thandai this year as that leads to large gatherings. We have deployed more than 400 volunteers who will make the devotees move on after they have finished their prayers. Even at the time of aarti we will ensure the queue keeps moving. To avoid overcrowding at a single place, no food stalls will be set up inside the temple premises," Das added.

Other temples too have taken strict measures to ensure the safety of devotees. The Birla Mandir near Karol Bagh has installed two screening units to scan the crowd for swine flu patients. "There are two medical camps in the temple, which will monitor devotees suffering cough and cold.

Though a devotee with the symptoms of swine flu will not be sent back, he will be taken inside through a different route. We may provide masks to people. We have also displayed posters which carry information about the symptoms of the swine flu to educate visitors," said VK Mishra, administrator of the Birla Mandir.

The Chhattarpur Mandir too has installed a diagnostic centre inside the temple.

Some gods are immune

However, your neighbourhood temples, which too attract large crowds, have taken no such measure. Gyaneshwar Mishra, a priest at Malviya Nagar temple, said, "Bhagwan ke ghar mein der hai, andher nahi, wohi sabka raksha karenge (God will save people coming to our temple)."

Devotees scared
Rajeev Verma, a resident of Mayur Vihar in east Delhi, said, "My six-year-old child is eager
to visit the local temple on Janmashtami. But we plan to avoid visiting public places because of the scare of
swine flu in the city."