<p>The spike in Covid-19 cases cast a shadow on the Rama Navami celebrations in the city on Wednesday as the special pujas and distribution of fruit juice were limited to some areas only.</p>.<p>Men dressed up as Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman went around the city distributing masks to those who were not wearing one. </p>.<p>With the new guidelines dictating that temples should be closed to devotees, there was some confusion as to when the restrictions will set in.</p>.<p>At the Ramanjaneya temple in Vidyaranyapura, North Bengaluru, people queued up before the temple and social-distancing norms were not followed inside the premises.</p>.<p>There were over 15 devotees inside when this reporter visited the temple. "We came to check if the temple was open and are happy it is," said a mother-daughter duo. </p>.<p>A volunteer distributing refreshments said: “A curfew must be in place, but we are not sure about it. However, once we run out of this container of buttermilk, we will wrap up for the day”.</p>.<p>Other temples in the locality were closed and devotees were not permitted inside. </p>.<p>When <span class="italic">DH</span> contacted the ward’s BBMP office, they said they had not received any instructions about regulations for the festival and asked us to contact Ashok D A, Joint Commissioner, Yelahanka. However, he did not respond to multiple calls and messages. </p>
<p>The spike in Covid-19 cases cast a shadow on the Rama Navami celebrations in the city on Wednesday as the special pujas and distribution of fruit juice were limited to some areas only.</p>.<p>Men dressed up as Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman went around the city distributing masks to those who were not wearing one. </p>.<p>With the new guidelines dictating that temples should be closed to devotees, there was some confusion as to when the restrictions will set in.</p>.<p>At the Ramanjaneya temple in Vidyaranyapura, North Bengaluru, people queued up before the temple and social-distancing norms were not followed inside the premises.</p>.<p>There were over 15 devotees inside when this reporter visited the temple. "We came to check if the temple was open and are happy it is," said a mother-daughter duo. </p>.<p>A volunteer distributing refreshments said: “A curfew must be in place, but we are not sure about it. However, once we run out of this container of buttermilk, we will wrap up for the day”.</p>.<p>Other temples in the locality were closed and devotees were not permitted inside. </p>.<p>When <span class="italic">DH</span> contacted the ward’s BBMP office, they said they had not received any instructions about regulations for the festival and asked us to contact Ashok D A, Joint Commissioner, Yelahanka. However, he did not respond to multiple calls and messages. </p>
