No flowers, coconuts in Siddhivinayak

Mumbai: Devotees can no longer take flowers, garlands and coconuts inside Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple.

The ban follows specific information by security agencies that terrorist organisations can use coconuts to plant bombs inside the temple.

Security has also been stepped up in and around the temple premises.

Several measures, including installation of CCTVs, metal detectors and frisking of visitors had been going on. The temple, which figures on the terrorists' hit list, already has a bulletproof wall surrounding it.

“These restrictions are for safety reasons. We expect the co-operation of all devotees,” says CEO Siddhvinayak Temple Trust, Hanuman Jagtap.

When asked whether there was any fresh threat to the temple, Jagtap was quoted by news agency PTI as saying, “I do not know. You have to ask the police.”

“We have requested the devotees not to offer big flower garlands and coconuts to lord Ganesh. This is just a precautionary measure for the safety of the devotees and the temple," Dadar police was quoted by PTI as saying.

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