The DMK government in Tamil Nadu headed by Chief Minister MK Stalin has imposed a ban on devotees visiting temples till August 9 apparently to prevent people from crowding at temples during special occasions like Aadi Perukku, Aadi Ammavasai, Aadi Kiruthigai, etc., that might lead to spurt in COVID-19 cases.
Two days back, on the occasion of Aadi Perukku, people were not allowed to pray to the Cauvery on the banks. The Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, Azhagar Kovil, Pazhamuthir Solai Murugan Temple, Thiruparankundram Subramania Swamy Temple have been closed to prevent crowding and curb COVID-19 cases. The Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram which people visit on Aadi Ammavasai (new moon day) to offer oblations to departed souls has also been closed. Also in many of the districts, all small and big temples have been asked to close to prevent people from coming.
But if one were to look at the ground reality, people are returning to normalcy with traffic jams in cities as crowd has started hitting the roads. Many shops are seeing increase in footfalls. It is not that the government has imposed ban on all religious places from functioning. Mosques and Churches are open for people. It is to be noted that the DMK government placed no restrictions on Bakrid which was just a few days ago. On top of this, government liquor outlets TASMAC which sees huge crowd on a daily basis have been kept open where people can be seen not following COVID-19 behaviour like social distancing.
Many on social media pointed out the double standards of the DMK government and lashed out at selectively targeting Hindu festivals.
DMK Goverment's Logic
Close all temples to curb the spread of virus but open all the tasmac shops— Pradeep Gunasekaran (@AskPradeepG) August 2, 2021
This Sunday Aadi Amavasi very special occasion in tamilnadu. People will do rituals for departed soul near temple tanks. Sure this anti hindu DMK government will close temples but no churches will be closed on Sunday. Secularism.
— sowmiya 🇮🇳 (@sowmiyasid) August 4, 2021
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