Janmashtami: Entry of outsiders banned in Mathura; online celebrations commence

Entry of outsiders has been banned in Mathura from August 11 to 13 in the light of Janmashtami celebrations. Mathura district administration has taken this action in view of the current COVID-19 condition.

Referring to this, Mathura SP Radhey Shyam Rai said that a plan has been chalked out to put restrictions on public entry in the district for three days. He informed that 39 barriers will be set up at the inter-state borders that the district shares with i.e., Haryana, Rajasthan, and others including Aligarh, Noida, and Agra.
He added that they have also written a letter to the district authorities in the neighbouring states to inform people that Janmashtami celebrations in Mathura have been cancelled.

Reportedly, the usual Janmashtami rituals will be taking place behind closed doors in the city temples, with the organisers following all the COVID-19 protocols. Well-known temples, such as the Banke Bihari Temple and Prem Mandir in Vrindavan, will remain shut for the public till September.

Mathura Janmashtami celebrations attract tons of visitors every year; however, this year, outsiders are not allowed entry due to COVID-19 outbreak. But this does not mean that one cannot be a part of Mathura celebrations. Reportedly, matths and ashrams in Mathura will provide online 'darshan' facility to devotees for Janmashtami festival.

Amid the Coronavirus outbreak, India will be witnessing a celebration of Janmashtami online this year. This online celebration commenced in Mathura from August 10. Due to the pandemic, holy water has been replaced by sanitizers and priests will be seen wearing masks while chanting mantras. Regarding this, one of the priests said that this is for the first time in the history of India that Bhagwad Gita is being telecasted online.