Hindus in Penang can hold temple prayers from 5am-10pm on Deepavali

 

In conjunction with the Deepavali festival which falls on Nov 14 Hindus are allowed to hold temple prayers from 5 am to 10 pm on that day.

Penang Social Development and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Chong Eng said prayers on the day before and the day after Deepavali can be conducted from 7am to 10pm.

Non-Muslim houses of worship in Penang have been allowed to operate from 7am to 10pm during the conditional movement control order (MCO) period.

“Members of temple committees, religious leaders and devotees are advised to always adopt the new norm and to discipline themselves. Each place of worship is responsible for assessing and reducing the risk so that devotees can worship safely,” he said in a statement here today.

He said the state government had set more detailed guidelines after religious activities at non-Muslim places of worship were allowed based on the attendance limit set by the National Security Council (NSC), Health Ministry, Federal and state governments.

“No more than 30 people are allowed in the place of worship at any one time subject to the size of the place with physical distancing of one metre observed. Only prayer activities are allowed, hence scheduled activities such as religious and cultural classes are not allowed during the conditional MCO period,” he said.

Chong Eng said dining events and large gatherings would not be allowed. Devotees should also disperse once prayers are over.

Apart from that, he said general standard operating procedures (SOPs) such as the registration of personal data of each devotee, body temperature checks, the use of face masks, providing of hand soaps and sanitisers as well as regular cleaning and sanitisation of worship places, should always be observed.

- Bernama