Bengaluru: With places of worship expected to reopen on June 8, the Karnataka State Minorities Commission has released guidelines for Mosques and Dargahs that include social distancing, temperature testing and compulsory hand washing.

Abdul Azeem, Commission Chairman said, “Everyone will have to maintain one-metre distance and carry their prayer mats. They will all be temperature-scanned and Farz prayers will be held for 10-15 minutes. Friday prayers should be completed within 20 minutes.”

The guidelines directed Mosque Committees to ensure that the floor of the Mosques is cleaned regularly with disinfectants. Distribution of tabarukh, shaking hands and overcrowding inside Mosques will not be allowed.  

The Muzrai Department also issued guidelines for temples, like mandatory face masks, sanitisation of sanctum sanctorum and thermal screening.

In a letter, the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Department mentioned that while Temple authorities and devotees should wear masks, priests, helpers and workers are exempt, in the core area of the temple.

The Muzrai Department is preparing broad guidelines not to allow dispensing of the customary holy water or Prasadam in token of the deity’s blessings to the devotees. At the same time, devotees will be restrained from carrying with them any types of puja materials like coconuts, fruits, flower, Tulsi twigs, etc. when entering the Temples.

The devotees can only have darshan of the Lord and prostrate before the deities. They cannot take part in any of the festivities related to the Temple or perform services. Even the devotees who book services online will only get to have the darshan of the deity. The proposed circular also plans to ban annual car festivals and fairs — where large number of people come together — temporarily till further orders.

As per the draft circular, checking of body temperature is a must at the entrance. The devotees should wear masks or kerchiefs around their mouths and noses. Everyone should clean hands with sanitisers at the entrance.

Devotees should maintain distance of one metre between them. Disinfectants should be used in outer and inner precincts of the temples to maintain cleanliness. Priests, assistants and other indoor staff should wear masks in all places other than the inner space, the circular says.