KLANG, Feb 2 (Sin Chew Daily) — Due to the staggering number of COVID-19 cases in the country and in strict compliance with the standard operating procedures, Dong Zen Temple has announced that the annual lantern festival held at the temple will not be open to the public during the upcoming Chinese New Year.

The public will be able to visit the lantern festival via virtual technology while blessing sessions will be held online too.

In a Zoom session, Dong Zen Temple chief abbess Ven Jue Cheng told the media the annual lantern festival will be held in a different way this year. 

Devotees around the world are welcome to join the virtual blessing sessions praying for the end of the pandemic.

"The lanterns are ready but due to the severity of the pandemic, we decide not to open to the public," she said.

The public will still be able to have virtual tour of the lantern festival. 

Since March last year, monks were unable to leave the temple and they started planting vegetables and fruits on a five-acre land behind the temple.

Volunteers had also helped decorate the orchard with colorful lanterns, said Ven Jue Cheng.

Lanterns at the orchard would be kept until mid-autumn festival, she said. 

Ven Jue Cheng also said everyone should remain positive and upbeat that the pandemic would be over soon.