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People bring food and flowers to the Shiva Temple during Diwali in Bur Dubai two years ago. Large gatherings and offerings are no longer permitted in temples and other religious places to stem the spread of Covid-19. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Gatherings and offerings of flowers and food are not permitted inside the Shiva temple in Dubai due to Covid-19 restrictions. Reem Mohammed / The National
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The Shiva temple in Dubai usually attracts between 3,000 to 5,000 people daily and about 15,000 over the weekend. Restrictions are in place on gatherings due to the coronavirus pandemic. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QYCZUB2FCYVCVFEUXEA2ASAE3A.jpg?smart=true&auth=d40ce6ec1e126bf3cf39f4e69d02c3168e636f24a9916a8a7d36ffdb4881ab30&width=400&height=225)
The Shiva temple in Bur Dubai will be shut for two days on Thursday and Friday to avoid tens of thousands of worshippers congregating for Shivratri, a big Hindu festival. Reem Mohammed / The National
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Barricades in place to maintain social distancing at the Hindu temple in Bur Dubai. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P4H25AHCGRLSNRBAKA3R672XZM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d546fa3c92b5c97c48b1aaa36ab7072c57a82aadc73ea4528df6c7c9f194a4d6&width=400&height=225)
Worshippers walk past shops on their way to the Hindu temple in Bur Dubai to offer prayers during Diwali, the festival of lights, two years ago before restrictions were put in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Antonie Robertson / The National
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Thousands have attended prayers at the Hindu temple in Bur Dubai in the months before restrictions were placed on gatherings to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PLHR5VMSJMFMV25Q6GTMP7GE2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=02bdeed4699bfd48e743e3c384c0bcdd3a017ce45a581f1cb7b01e924dfb94fb&width=400&height=225)
People bring food and flowers to the Shiva Temple during Diwali in Bur Dubai two years ago. Large gatherings and offerings are no longer permitted in temples and other religious places to stem the spread of Covid-19. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZPMI6DD3YDZ6CPKLGXYUFOPSWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=14f9ba5b22aeb6d301e4000a700c646bdc6ead7c626d26770681b11f1e82da00&width=400&height=225)
Gatherings and offerings of flowers and food are not permitted inside the Shiva temple in Dubai due to Covid-19 restrictions. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IIVWW4LX66I7JGO7BQULFJCXH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=2705b5e4a1c377a3dc229ee6f67d4497ad54179e8a12feaa6349562a7d2bcaa4&width=400&height=225)
The Shiva temple in Dubai usually attracts between 3,000 to 5,000 people daily and about 15,000 over the weekend. Restrictions are in place on gatherings due to the coronavirus pandemic. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QYCZUB2FCYVCVFEUXEA2ASAE3A.jpg?smart=true&auth=d40ce6ec1e126bf3cf39f4e69d02c3168e636f24a9916a8a7d36ffdb4881ab30&width=400&height=225)
The Shiva temple in Bur Dubai will be shut for two days on Thursday and Friday to avoid tens of thousands of worshippers congregating for Shivratri, a big Hindu festival. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IN6HRYIGQVHZXKQQYVTQREZRHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab5d9db6dbcb28f29a9f035ee12cc02617a0c81cd8d03e4bab8138fc1f7d44e2&width=400&height=225)
Barricades in place to maintain social distancing at the Hindu temple in Bur Dubai. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P4H25AHCGRLSNRBAKA3R672XZM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d546fa3c92b5c97c48b1aaa36ab7072c57a82aadc73ea4528df6c7c9f194a4d6&width=400&height=225)
Worshippers walk past shops on their way to the Hindu temple in Bur Dubai to offer prayers during Diwali, the festival of lights, two years ago before restrictions were put in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H4FZYZ43DO6NF3EEL433EE5PNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=94599f4ed04e0f5689f0833386bfa0259f2d11726c1711caa340ec9f4c0cc957&width=400&height=225)
Thousands have attended prayers at the Hindu temple in Bur Dubai in the months before restrictions were placed on gatherings to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PLHR5VMSJMFMV25Q6GTMP7GE2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=02bdeed4699bfd48e743e3c384c0bcdd3a017ce45a581f1cb7b01e924dfb94fb&width=400&height=225)
People bring food and flowers to the Shiva Temple during Diwali in Bur Dubai two years ago. Large gatherings and offerings are no longer permitted in temples and other religious places to stem the spread of Covid-19. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Dubai temple to close ahead of big Hindu festival
Bur Dubai shrine will close on Thursday and Friday so thousands do not congregate for Shivratri prayers
![Ramola Talwar Badam](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5ef0cfa3-a931-4bee-a429-a6e926cfab98.png?smart=true&auth=8bd0c965d9bb14cf66195518e8cc461c939674357be28fde76d5e3597d39b95d&width=70&height=70)
Ramola Talwar Badam
28 February, 2021
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