Mansa Devi Temple Committee located in Haridwar, Uttarakhand has taken a decision. According to this decision, no priest in the temple will place his hand on the head of any devotee to give blessings. This rule has been made keeping in mind the safety of women and the dignity of the temple. Temple Trust head Mahant Ravindra Puri gave important information regarding this rule. He told that in the coming time, Kumbh Mela will be organized here, where lakhs of people will come. In such a situation, this decision has been taken so that no complaints come against the priests.

Mahant Ravindra Puri recently gave an interview to ANI. In this he told that the priests can apply Tilak on the forehead of the devotees with their hands, however, they cannot bless any devotee by placing their hands on the head. According to the rules, the priest who does not follow this rule will be thrown out of the service of the temple.

What did Mahant Ravindra Puri say?

Regarding this rule, Mahant Ravindra Puri said, ‘We have banned the tradition of giving blessings by placing hands on the head. From now on no priest can bless by placing his hand on the head of a woman or a man. The priest can take prasad from the devotees and bless them. It is not a priest who gives blessings, but it is Mother Bhavani who blesses the devotees.

He further said, ‘I think it is not right for the priest to bless by touching the head. In the coming days, Kumbh Mela will be held, where crores of devotees are going to come. Many priests have different thoughts and ideas, no one knows what is going on in their mind. Therefore, we are trying to ensure that no complaints arise in future. We have started this rule to ensure that no untoward incident happens to the devotees. ‘Maa Bhavani will bless the devotees.

Mahant Ravindra Puri told that what blessings will the priest give to the devotees who come to visit this temple? They come to seek blessings of Mata Bhavani. Just as devotees are devotees of God, similarly priests are also devotees of God. In such a situation, what blessing can one devotee give to another devotee? Therefore, a rule has been brought to end the tradition of blessings by the priests by placing their hands on the head.