Liaquat, Rajshahi: For the first time in the 500-year history, the Tirobhav Tithi Utsav of Maharaja Thakur Shil Narottam Das has been postponed at Premtuli Kheturi Dham in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi due to corona virus. However, religious formalities will be observed to a lesser extent. As the festival is not taking place, the members of the Sri Sri Gaurangdev Trust Board have requested the fans not to come to Kheturi Dham by holding a press conference. The festival was to be held on Sri Krishna Panchami Tithi at Sri Pat Khetur Dham in Premtalistha from November 4 to November 6. But due to the health risk in the Corona epidemic, all the gates of the temple will be closed and religious worship including chanting of Harinam will be performed in the temple premises. Besides, all other activities will be closed. Speaking at a press conference at a restaurant in Rajshahi this afternoon, members of the Sri Sri Gaurangdev Trust Board, the organizer, said no kirtan pandals, temporary shops or other ceremonies could be held outside the temple. "We don`t want to hurt anyone`s religious feelings, and we don`t want anyone to die prematurely," they said. The big religion is to save lives without rushing emotions. If there is life, religious deeds and bhajans can be performed. The press conference further said that as long as the coronavirus vaccine is not available to the general public, the fans are urged to stay at home by eliminating emotional thoughts.
It was further informed at the press conference that the cooperation of the administration has been sought so that the devotees could not gather at the temple premises. This press conference is so that the fans from far and wide do not get in the way of coming to the festival venue.
Devotees who used to take part in the festival from far and wide have been requested not to come to Khetur Dham this year. If you come, you will be the victim of unnecessary harassment. So we Chinese fans came to Kheturdham and were harassed.
Prof. Dr. Manmohan Singh, President of the Board of Trustees of Shri Gaurangandev Vigraha Tagore read out a written statement at the press conference, General Secretary Shyamapada Sanyal was present.
About 1 million devotees from India, Nepal and abroad gathered at this religious festival.