Aurangabad: In the backdrop of Covid-19 spreading out across the eight districts of the Marathwada region in Maharashtra state, all three Jyotirlinga across the region has been closed down by the respective district administration to prevent masses from visiting it on Mahashivratri today.
Ghrushnewar at Ellora in Aurangabad district, Parli-Vaijnath at Parli in Beed district and Aunda Nagnath at Aunda in Hingoli were the three Jyotirlinga in this region out of 12 across the country.
The Ghrishneshwar temple at Ellora in Aurangabad district will remain closed till March 13, ordered by district collector Sunil Chavan.
While Beed Collector Ravindra Jagtap had ordered to cancel the Mahashivaratri Yatra festival at Parli-Vaijnath starting from March 11, as a preventive measure to curb the spread of Covid-19 virus in the district.
Ruchesh Jaywanshi district collector of Hingoli also issued similar orders to close down the Aunda Nagnath temple of Lord shiva in view of Covid.
However, in connection with Covid-19, the Home Department has given instructions to celebrate Mahashivaratri in a very simple manner.
The guidelines also say that devotees should perform pooja at home and that managers at the Shiva temple should make arrangements for online darshan.
Thousands of devotees across from the state every year throng these Jyotirlingas for darshan of Lord Shiva on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri.(UNI)