Several foreigners joined Holi celebrations at ISKCON headquarters at Mayapur

Nabadwip(Nadia)/Kolkata, 9 March (HS): Even as the danger of Coronavirus has gripped a number of European countries, particularly Italy generating a fear psychosis across globe, a large number of foreigners including some from Italy have come to Mayapur, the global headquarters of the ‘International Society for Krishna Consciousness’ (ISKCON), a religious organization belonging to the ‘Gaudiya-Vaishnava Sect’ to celebrate the Dol Utsav (Holi) there.

As the celebration began this morning, thousands of Indian and foreign devotees of ISKCON and the followers of their Chief Late Prabhupada,assemble at the main temple at the Mayapur headquarters of ISKCON and joined the Holi celebrations with songs, dance and the chanting of ‘Hare Krishna’ by all.

“We have taken all precautions to prevent shaking of hands or body connection by anybody to spread  the deadly virus in the Ashram complex after screening every devotee, Indian as well as foreigners, to find out whether any of them was suffering from fever, or cough’, said one of the spokespersons of the ISKCON.

Enough stocks of hand sanitizers and liquid soaps were also being maintained for frequent washing of hands as other preventive step, as prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), he said.

Asked about the measures in case any one suspected of having the effects of the deadly virus later today, the spokesperson said though the Mayapur temple complex did not have any isolation or quarantine facilities, they had kept ready a number of ambulances to take any such patient immediately to the district Super specialty hospital, which is only about a 10 km away for treatment.

It is estimated that about 200 foreigners have joined the Holi celebrations at Mayapur temple today