Crowding galore in Shillong
The East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner announced on Saturday that markets and shops other than pharmacies were to be closed on Sunday. But on Sunday, the Golf Links witnessed maximum crowding. Forget social distancing, no one bothered to wear masks. At this rate Shillong might become the epicenter of the Covid spread in Meghalaya.
While the district administration is doing its best, it is obvious that the Dorbar Shnong have not asserted themselves as they did during the first phase of the pandemic. It is obvious that there cannot be enough police personnel on the streets to compel people to wear masks and prevent crowding. Only the local authorities can bring compliance and order to prevent the Covid spread.
City gurudwara BHOG certified
The “Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Shillong, is certified under Blissful Hygienic Offering to God (BHOG) as per benchmarks established by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India”, reads a certificate framed and hanging from a wall of Shillong’s renowned Gurudwara located on the Bomfyle Road, Lachaumiere.
Like many others across the country, the Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha feeds the public, by and large, who visit the place of worship only on Sundays. This is called ‘langar’, meaning free meal.
Langar is served here from 1 pm to 3 pm.
People, mostly Sikhs, from near and far visit the temple, especially on Sundays, to pay their obeisance to God.
Speaking to the SJ team, the management of the Gurudwara said that a lot of hard work has been put to avail various certifications for the place and transform its infrastructure. “There is not much to say, we are absolutely elated at having BHOG certification,” says the manager, Rajbir Singh, who was busy handling people with inquiries even during a conversation with us.
Coincidentally, we were also told that the langar will not be served temporarily in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation.
BHOG certification ensures quality of food offered to devotees and deities as well. It was availed by the Gurudwara on February 27, 2021.
Missing slipper & faucets
In between a serious conversation, a crowd gradually accumulated at the manager’s office of the Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Shillong.
The first were two lads that complained about a missing pair of slippers.
The duo was shown the CCTV footage to find out who was responsible for the theft.
In between this, loud complaints could be heard outside the office from the functionaries of the Gurudwara.
Barging inside, the bemused man narrated to the manager that the majority of the faucets in the men’s washroom were missing.
Soon several people thronged the room and all eyes were glued to the screen like detectives keenly looking for evidence to identify the culprit.
Eventually, they ended up finding the one who slipped in his feet inside the lad’s slippers. The youth, now barefooted, did the least he could — took a video of the man taking off with his slippers.
And as for the faucets, it was hard luck for the management. These petty crimes were not a one-off phenomenon as they said that of late there have been numerous reports from people about losing their belongings. A Sikh man, who was also inspecting the footage, claimed to have lost a pair of shoes earlier this week.
The management, however, lamented being short of manpower to prevent the spate of thefts, but vowed to pull up their socks.