Corona effect on traditional Vitthalnathji’s procession in Vadodara

211th procession of Lord Vitthalnathji take place inside temple premises

For the first time the traditional Vitthalnathji’s procession was not allowed to move on city roads of Vadodara due to Coronavirus epidemic. The temple trust decides and took out the procession inside the temple premises and then allowed the devotees to visit while maintaing lockdown rules.

Due to Coronavirus epidemic this year the 211th procession of Lord Vitthalnathji was not take place on the city roads. Lord Vitthalnathji’s procession is traditionally held twice a year from the temple of Lord Vitthalnathji at Mandvi managed by Devasthan Trust.

The royal family run Devasthan trust and police department decides not to take out the procession this year in view of people health. However the trust and temple committee makes preparations for the celebration and decides to move the procession of lord inside the temple.

As decided on Wednesday morning, after the traditional worship by the Gaekwad family, Lord Vitthalnathji arrived in a small chariot inside the temple premises. After completing the procession the Lord was placed at its place as per rituals.

The procession inside the temple this year is centre of attraction as only 25 devotees are allowed inside which includes Rajmata Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad and other members of the family.

Thereafter the devotees are allowed to visit inside after thermal gun checking, hand sanitisation and wearing masks. The temple committee decide to allow people from morning 10 to 1pm and then 4 to 7pm in the evening strictly maintaing the rules of social distancing.

Temple Mahant Hariom Vyas of Vitthalnathji Temple said, for the first time in last more than 200 years the procession will be not taken out. But the decision is taken in the interest of health of the people and contain the deadly virus. A small procession was taken out inside the temple premises and then the the devotees are allowed to visit.