Bur Dubai’s Hindu temple complex will not be having an upcoming Maha Shivratri physical celebration given the Coronavirus pandemic. Gurudarbar Sindhi Temple management has asked all devotees to not visit the temple for the festival to honor the Hindu deity Lord Shiva.

The management said on Sunday that the Maha Shivratri temple would be closed for a festival that falls on Friday, March 12. This is in line with Covid-19 measures and as safety protocol for all.

Currently, the temple is open for one hour per day. A temple trustee said, “The temple opens for half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening for conducting puja.”

Shivratri is the biggest festival observed in the temple with people coming in large amounts of 50,000 to 60,000 on this day pre-pandemic. Temple trustee said, “We don’t want thousands of people to gather and cause concerns about the spread of the virus. Hence, we decided to close the temple for celebrations by the public as a precautionary measure from our side to ensure safety and security of the community.”

Last year two novelty shops were destroyed in a fire in temple premises just a few days ahead of the festival. The fire had started due to a short circuit, leading to the temple closed for a day.

Maha Shivratri translates to “the greatest night of Shiva”. The festival is one of the most celebrated Hindu festivals in India and the world. It is believed that Lord Shiva performs a dance and also marks marriage with Goddess Parvati.

The trustee said, “This is one of the busiest days of the year at the temple, after important days like New year and Diwali. The management has urged all devotees to stay safe and perform pujas at home, to prevent the spread of the virus.”

“We are all responsible to ensure safety measures are adhered to. As Maha Shivratri represents ‘overcoming darkness and ignorance,’ we hope this festival will be the beginning of overcoming the darkness of the pandemic.”

To help devotees seek blessings, the virtual ‘darshan’ of Lord Shiva would be arranged by the temple. Temple’s YouTube channel ‘Hindu Temple Dubai’ can be visited by devotees to watch live streaming.

As for Holi celebrations, the trustee said that decision would be taken later. Holi is on March 28 this year. He said. “We will see the situation and take a call on Holi closer to the festival.”