Kolkata: Defying the countrywide lockdown and physical distancing norms ordered by the Central govt., tens of thousands of Hindu devotees assembled in temples in various parts of West Bengal chanting ‘Jai Sri Ram’ on the occasion of Ram Navami on Thursday. The orders are in place in view of highly contagious and deadly coronavirus disease till April 14.

Long queues were seen outside temples across the state. Hindu devotees in large number were seen scrambling outside temples in various parts of West Bengal. It was also learnt that the Hindu devotees sought blessings from Hindu God ‘Ram’ for relief from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Police were seen asking devotees to go back to their homes after offering pujas but didn’t stop them from coming out of their homes. Large gatherings were found outside many temples in Beliaghata and Maniktala area in the eastern metropolis.

Many devotees were seen queuing up at locked temples too without following social or physical distancing norms. These crowds were not dispelled by the police. However, police asked the temple custodians to follow social distancing. It must be noted that during lockdown, all religious gatherings are strictly banned including Muslim prayers and Hindu pujas.