Pointing out that the pandemic is making people stressful and even depressed, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has asked the government to open all the places of worship in the country.
The Hindutva body said visit to temples and other places of worship will help people to overcome mental stress caused by the lockdown and the pandemic. “People have been locked in their homes for a long time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They have started going through mental pressures and stress, and consequently will fall prey to depression. In such a situation, they will be able to get rid of that mental stress by visiting temples and other places of worship,” VHP central working president Alok Kumar said.
He said opening of religious places could prevent effects of the lockdown on the mental/psychological health of the people.
The VHP leader cited the example of Mata Vaishno Devi temple in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, which has reopened following all the COVID-19 parameters and protocols put in place by the authorities, and asked the government to allow opening of temples, gurdwaras and ashrams soon.
The government has already allowed social, religious and political gathering of 100 people from September 21. The biggest beneficiary of this relaxation will be political parties as assembly elections are to be held in Bihar.
