As India is witnessing coronavirus pandemic, various superstitious activities have also started spreading in severalareas of the country. In Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh a group of women were seen worshipingGoddess Corona to end the Covid crisis. This group of women considercoronavirus infection as a divine disaster and therefore offering water toCorona Mai every morning and evening.
Around 5 am in the morning, women worship the Goddess andoffer holy water with neem leaves. According to them, Sunday was the 5th day ofworship and on the 7th day, pakki dhar (turmeric, coconut, and jaggery) will beoffered. After this, on the ninth day,the Goddess will be offered Kadahi (halwa-puri).
Pleased by the worship and offerings, the goddess will acceptthe prayers of all and will absorb the disease making the world free onceagain. This worship of Corona Mai is seen in Kali Temple, Dih Baba Sthan,Diwahari Mai, and Sati Mata Temple in every village and city.
One can say that reason for such superstition is lack ofeducation and this only happens in rural areas. However, it is wrong as womennot only from rural areas but cities are also performing the worshiping ritualsof Corona Mai. People believe that no medicine or vaccine is working on thedisease and this is the only option left. They believe that now everything isin the hands of God and the pandemic will end soon.
The puja of Corona Mai started from Lakshipur village.According to people, Goddess herself pays visit to the priest of Kali temple ofLakshipur village and gives hint about the unfortunate incidents that are aboutto happen. Along with warning Goddess gives a solution and suggests ways to fightthe problem.
A few days earlier, the goddess suggested that if womenof village and city worship for seven to nine days and offer Kadahi on theninth day, the disease will be absorbed and the world will be free frompandemic.