Major gurudwaras (Sikh temples) and mandirs (Hindu temples) across Australia have posted notices on their social media pages advising devotees that restrictions will apply to mass gatherings and regular community practices like teaching, cooking and serving food from the kitchen on the premises till further notice.
Expecting large numbers, as usual, many Hindu temples cancelled the Holi (Indian festival of colours) celebrations that were scheduled over the past weekend.
Highlights:
- Religious sites take precautionary measures to combat spread of coronavirus
- Temples impose restrictions on mass gatherings and routine practices
- The Australian government has banned all non-essential mass gatherings of more than 500 people
Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement on March 13 after Australia’s Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy advised the Council of Australian Governments that gatherings with over 500 people should be avoided to minimise the spread of the coronavirus.
Australia’s prominent Sikh and Hindu temples at Glenwood, Revesby, Turra Murra, Helensburgh and Auburn in Sydney and at Craigieburn, Blackburn, Rockbank, Carrum Downs and Albert Park in Melbourne, frequently attract 500 devotees over the weekends and the number can run into a few thousand on special occasions.
However, Hobart’s Gurdwara Nanak Darbar proactively imposed restrictions on March 12 – a day before PM Morrison’s announcement.Despite the small population of Indians in the Tasmanian capital, the Hobart gurudwara took the lead amongst Sikh and Hindu places of worship in the country to announce on its Facebook page the cancellation of large gatherings, including the weekly Sunday congregation till further notice.
Perth’s Sikh Temple at Canning Vale followed suit with a similar Facebook announcement on March 13.Taking stricter hygiene measures, the gurudwaras at Perth and Blackburn in Melbourne have also announced that not only will the cooking of langar (community food) be stopped, the dough (edible offering made at gurdwaras) will also not be prepared till further notice.
Most temples in Sydney and Melbourne – which account for the maximum number of people of Indian origin – have issued notices advising people to visit in small numbers and leave soon after paying obeisance.
Offering and cooking edible items inside the temple premises have also been halted for the time being.
Two of Melbourne’s largest Hindu temples, Sri Durga Temple and Shiva Vishnu Temple, had to cancel their Holi festival scheduled for the past weekend just two days before.The temple staff say they had been working on this event for months.
“Even though the PM had advised cancellation from March 16 onwards, we thought it’s better to be safe than sorry,” said Mr Neeraj Kalia, secretary of Sri Durga Temple Management Committee.
The Facebook page and website of Melbourne’s ISKCON Temple also details the restrictions that will apply to the devotees who wish to visit the temple from March 16.
Hindu temples outside Melbourne have yet to make such announcements.Listen to SBS Punjabi Monday to Friday at 9 pm. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
