The tiny demon named Coronavirus has created major havoc, for the Christmas and New Year celebrations in the city. Earlier where hoards of people used to flock together at the Churches on 31st December and 1st January for the mass gatherings, this year there is no such expectation of a big crowd picture, causing a hindrance in the people’s year-ending celebrations.
“This year for the Protestant Churches, as per the Covid norms, we will be arranging the prayers just for the morning on 1st January, which will be starting from 8 am sharp and will wind up by 10 am. There will be two separate batches allotted for a total strength of 50 people for each batch,†said Ganesh Barve, Ex-Secretary of St Thomas Church, New Colony Nagpur.
“Earlier the benches which allowed 6 people to sit together at one time, this year it will allow only 3 people and a minimum distance of 1 foot will be placed in between each benches. A sanitization machine has been specially installed at the front gate of the Church for the people entering the Church to wash their hands,†he further added.
It has been known that the rule will remain the same for all the Protestant Churches in the city. However, a little different prayer arrangement has been set for the Catholic Churches.
“In the Catholic Churches on the 31st December evening, a program has been scheduled from 6:15 pm to 9:30 pm where the Bishop’s mass gathering will be happening. Various batches and not more than 50 people per batch will be allotted for the prayer,†said Father Jomaise, SFS Church, Kamptee Road.
“Again on 1st January morning a prayer will start from 6:15 am which will continue till 10 am giving 45 minutes time to each batch and allocating not more than 50 people at a time to gather for the meeting,†he added further.
