A video posted on YouTube by South China Morning Post shows that India, one of the most affected countries by the Covid-19 pandemic, people are turning to spiritual and divine powers in an attempt to protect themselves from the new coronavirus.
Last month, Indian media reported on a group of women from a village in West Bengal decided to fight the coronavirus in their own unique way. They worshipped Corona Mai, or ‘Corona Goddess’. A small shrine has been set up on the banks of Chinnamasta pond, near Asansol city. They began with singing songs and mantras, then burning incense and bringing offerings like fruits, vegetables, ghee, and jaggery. The plan is to worship and pray to the goddess until she takes away the coronavirus which we know might take a while.
“We hope that Corona Devi ensures that the virus leaves us forever,” said a 23-year-old worshipper. “Our offerings and chants will win us some respite from the virus.”
Most of the worshipers of Corona main are from women in their early 20s to old ladies in their 70s. They all believe that the best way to help fight the pandemic is to pray to the goddess until she decides to take the coronavirus away.
“We have decided to worship Corona Devi every Monday and Friday till she becomes satisfied,” a 56-year-old woman said.
While this group of Corona Goddess worshipers from West Bengal set up a small outdoor shrine, one Kerala man set up a temple to worship a “coronavirus goddess”. As the traditions, which promote seeing a god in every molecule around us, Anilan Muhoortham, from the town of Kadakkal, worships coronavirus as a goddess.
“I have established this temple for Goddess Coronavirus in accordance with the constitutional freedom to worship. Goddess Coronavirus is being worshiped here,” the Kerala man said. “I dedicate the temple to those health workers, scientists trying to find vaccines, police-fire & rescue officers, other media personnel, journalists, and expatriates reporting the information in real-time.”
Anilan is obeying the social distancing rules that have been forced by the government for us to follow. Whoever wants to make an offering to the Goddess Coronavirus via his home temple can do so by courier or post. They can also just call him to have the prasad delivered.
Source: YouTube South China Morning Post