Timing curbs at Kolkata's Dakshineswar temple lifted for Kali Puja, Kalighat sticks to Covid hours

KOLKATA: The Dakshineswar temple will remain open from 7am on Saturday to 3.30am on Sunday for Kali Puja, the first time the curbs on timings being relaxed ever since restrictions were imposed to minimize the spread of the novel coronavirus.
There will, however, be no change in the timings of Kalighat temple, where unlike at Dakshineswar temple, the Goddess is worshipped as a daughter and so, the rituals are reportedly different.The other restrictions, like no offering of flowers, will be followed at both the temples.
The puja at the Dakshineswar temple will be telecast live and arrangements have been made so that people can watch the rituals on their screens, listen to the mantras and even offer anjali from home . “Thousands of women across the country fast on this day and break their fast only after completing the anjali. Hence, we have arranged for this virtual puja. We have never done it earlier,” said Kushal Chowdhury, spokesperson for the Dakshineswar Temple.
Devotees will have to follow the protocols on masks, sanitization and maintaining social distance. Though people will be allowed to enter the temple throughout the day, they will not be permitted to stay on the premises for too long as the train of devotees will have to walk through a route from entrance to the exit. No one will be allowed to stand for more than a few seconds. Only dry prasad can be offered though no flowers will be allowed. The big screens that are usually set up for devotees to watch the puja will not be installed this time to avoid crowding. No one will be allowed at the ghats and Panchavati gardens and there will be no distribution of bhog.
The Kalighat temple will open from 6am to noon and then again, from 4 pm to a little beyond 9pm. The timings have been slightly stretched because for a short while in the evening the devotee movement will be restricted as Lakshmi Puja rituals will be carried out following traditions. The deity is worshipped as a daughter here and instead of her Kali avatar, she is worshipped as Lakshmi. After the rituals get over, bhog and the sevayat bhog will be offered in two time slots. “We will bring in some restrictions in the movement of devotees during this time to prevent crowding. The restrictions on entry to the garbha griha will be on,” said Dipankar Chatterjee, secretary of the Kalighat Sevayat Committee.