The pandemic is certainly not discouraging the believers from their commitment to Gods they pray to and believe in.
On Saturday, August 22 even as Sri Vinayaka Chathurti celebrations were being observed in homes and some people headed to closed temple to say a prayer, on the road were groups of pilgrims who were headed to the Annai Vailankanni Shrine in Besant Nagar.
This being the season of the ‘Madha’ festival, ( Mother Mary’s birthday is celebrated on Sept.8), a number of people take part in pilgrimages, some walking for days from the city to Vailankanni in Nagapattinam district where the main shrine is located ( it is now shut due to regulations).
Others undertake shorter pilgrimages.
This morning, groups of pilgrims who said they were from Vysarpadi were seen walking down Luz Church Road, turning into R. K. Mutt Road and headed south, to Besant Nagar.
There were men, women, youths and children, all wearing kavi clothes.
Many pilgrims use the weekend holidays to observe these pilgrimages.
The Besant Nagar shrine is also closed and services are being webcast. But the pilgrim walks may increase in the first week of September.
But what about social distancing?
Its wrong to encourage this practice as the rage of COVID-19 has not eased.
If they say faith, isn’t it not disobedience of rules and then hasn’t God given us the power to discern and choose the right actions?
I avoided crowded street, I go usually to just feel the mood of Gnesh Chaturthi festivities.
Whats the meaning in closing temples and churches when still there are volunteer who wish to get infected and will infect others.
Kudos to double standards and carelessness!!
Fire is dangerous wherever its handled carelessly!!