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From cow dung water to rituals for Corona Devi: Misinformation blinds Karnataka village

From dung water to smoke to rituals to get rid of Corona Devi, misinformation and superstitions are rampant in this Karnataka village.

In misguided hope of warding off Coronavirus, villagers in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district have resorted to sprinkling cow dung water and gather in numbers to offer puja to Corona Devi to deal with the second wave of the pandemic.

This district recently made national headlines after 24 patients died due to the lack of oxygen at the government hospital.

The misinformed villagers believe that mixing of cow dung water and sprinkling in house surroundings, drawing rangoli at the entrance, placing plain rice, smoke using neem leaves and offering prayers to the newly-established Corona Devi statue, will keep the pandemic at bay.

The reality that continues to elude the villagers is that Covid-appropriate behaviour and awareness -- not blind belief -- can break the chain of the Coronavirus pandemic.

NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitize, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCorona