Amid virus outbreak, BAPS Swaminarayan sect to close all its temples globally

In view of the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, the
Swaminarayan sect has announced to close all its temples globally and suspend
routine activities until further notice as part of its efforts to protect the
health of volunteers, visitors and local communities.

COVID-19, which has been declared as a
pandemic by the World Health Organisation, has claimed over 5,000
lives, including 41 in the US, and infected more than 134,000 people globally. The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar
Purushottam (BAPS) Swaminarayan Sanstha, which runs about 100
temples in the US, over the weekend in particular is visited by thousands of
devotees every month.

The BAPS is a volunteer-driven organisation that aims to
improve society through individual growth by fostering Hindu ideals of faith,
unity, and selfless service. “To prevent large gatherings, BAPS mandirs
(temples) will be closed throughout the world, but devotees will be given daily
darshan through the websites of each mandir,’ the BAPS said in a media release.