Hundreds converge in a UP village to offer prayers to ward off COVID-19 at the 'Corona Mata' temple.

Devotees in Uttar Pradesh's Shuklapur village are now praying to 'Corona Mata,' a new goddess in their faith's pantheon, in the hopes of divine intervention saving them from the deadly coronavirus disease (Covid-19) threat that has plagued India and the world for the past one and a half years, according to news agency Reuters. The people are said to have installed the idol of their "Corona Mata" at a nearby shrine this week and regularly offer prayers, holy water, and flowers at the bright yellow temple.

'Use a mask, wash your hands, and keep your distance,' reads a sign on the temple wall where the idol has been erected. As an offering, only yellow flowers, fruits, sweets, and other items are permitted. This UP town isn't the first in the country to build a temple dedicated to the disease's diety. It has been observed, particularly during epidemics.

Villagers in Shuklapur, on the other hand, appear to be faithful to their god, earnestly expecting that blessings from 'Corona Mata' will bring relief to the community. Devotees cheered as they stood near the goddess 'Corona Mata,' her idol erected before the brilliant yellow altar at the makeshift temple in Pratapgarh.

According to the priest, this is not the first time such a shrine has appeared. "When dreadful diseases like plagues and smallpox occurred in the past, temples like that of 'Chechak Mata' were built," he claimed.

Meanwhile, on social media, a video of people worshipping at the temple has gone viral. SHO Sangipur admitted that he was unaware of such a shrine in the village.