COVID-19: Hustle-bustle missing in Gurudwaras on death anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev

Srinagar, May 26 : Hustle-and-bustle in Gurudwaras was on Tuesday missing on the death anniversary of Guru Arjun Dev as the nation-wide lockdown to curtail the spread of COVID-19 continued in Kashmir valley, where the number of infected patients rose unabated.

Meanwhile, All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) President Jagmohan Singh told UNI that this year it was decided not to hold any gatherings on the death anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev in view of COVID-19 lockdown.

The main congregation in the valley on the death anniversary of the Guru used to happen in Saheed Bunga in Bhagat Barzulla in Srinagar every year. However, this year due to COVID-19 pandemic, no function was organized by the Gurdwara committee.

The otherwise thronged Gurudwara, was deserted though people were coming in smaller groups of two and three to pay respect to the fifth Skih Guru on his death anniversary. “Sikhs in large numbers used to throng this Gurdwara every year to celebrate the martyrdom of the Guru. But this year, no function was held in the Gurudwara due to COVID-19. We are sad, but it is necessary to maintain social distancing,” Ravinder Pal Singh, a resident of Srinagar, told UNI.

Singh said he alongwith his 2-year-old daughter and wife came to the Gurudwara to pay respect and blessing from the Guru. “Other family members also came, but separately in different times of the day,” he added.

Similarly, other members of the Sikh community also asserted that they came in groups of two and three to pay respect to Guru Arjan Dev. But, the community members living in different parts of the valley said that they could not visit the Gurudwara in view of lockdown and gag on intra-district travel.

The APSCC President urged Sikh community members to maintain social distancing and adhere to other precautions to fight COVID-19. “People are coming in smaller groups to the Gurdwara, but I urge them to take utmost precaution and maintain social distancing and hand hygiene while visiting the Gurdwara,” he said.