Religious household and temple rituals – how they may change in the foreseeable future.

Religious household and temple rituals – how they may change in the foreseeable future.

Religion plays a major role in the Indian way of life. Rituals, worship, and other religious activities are very prominent in an individual's daily life; it is also a principal organizer of social life.

While Bhakti or Belief in the Almighty will continue around the world, will there be a change in the way religious rituals will be carried out.

I will attempt to comment on the Hindu way of rituals. There may be similar challenges in other religions as well around the world.

1.   Social distancing will become the standard norm to avoid crowding and proximity of devotees in temples and other religious institutions.

2.   Masks will be made mandatory for entry.

3.   Sanitization will become a norm. How the idols will be sanitized remains a challenge as aside of water, Ghee, milk, honey, curd, and fruits used for Abhishekam and panchamrit, other things are not used for daily pooja rituals. Flowers usually bedeck the idols post the pooja. Maybe a solution of water with Camphor is an option for sanitizing the garbha gudi. Other sanitizers could be used in other internal and external surroundings.

4.   Aarti may not be offered to devotees. Individual requests for Archana may not be accepted. Special poojas will be on a very restricted basis.

5.   Duration of all rituals may be reduced / cut short. Alternatively, public facing rituals may be shortened. Private rituals may happen in full.

6.   Offerings and donations in kind (flowers, fruits, incense etc.,) will not be accepted. Cash and donations through digital means will be preferred.

7.   Prasadam / Parshad or food and holy water (Teertha / Charanamrit) may not be distributed openly, as was done earlier. Contactless distribution methods will have to be devised.

8.   Large scale Annadanam (in large temples) could be stopped. Instead distribution of food packets may become the preferred mode.

9.   Restrictions on the number of people inside the premises will be imposed. Quick movements will also be ensured.

10. Religious festivals and gatherings for celebrations will be low key.

11. There will be a screen between the sanctum sanctorum and the public.

12. Evening Harikathas / Pravachans will be restricted and when done will have a restricted audience.

13. Household prayers and rituals may not see too much of a change but certainly home invitations to relatives and friends will be minimized.

14. Live relays of the rituals will be beamed on TV channels or other modes for people to experience and witness them in the absence of entry restrictions in religious places.

15. Large scale Satsang etc., will not happen for a while. Spiritual discourses will go online, and traditional and orthodox devotees and Senior citizens will have to become tech savvy

Some questions

·      Will the Purohit / Priest profession have to find other means of conducting rituals as people will start using recorded / online facilities?

·      Will Individuals who are completely dependent on the Purohit / Archak / priest profession, face a struggle to survive?

·      Are the Respected Peethadhipathis and Mathadhipathis of various sects thinking of remedies for the challenges in these times?

·      Will Low density and High Impact be the way of life for the rituals and festivals?

·      Will faith and belief win over the pandemic? Will the pandemic affect the centuries old religious traditions and culture?

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