Businessmen at one of the largest markets in Tripura on Saturday organised gaumata puja (cow worship) to “save the people of the country from the threat of novel coronavirus.”

Gautam Shill, the priest and secretary of Maharajganj Bazar here, told The Telegraph that businessmen held a meeting a few days back as they were facing losses owing to the pandemic and decided to organise the puja for the “betterment of society and for people infected by Covid-19.

“We believe worshipping gaumata would avert the spread of the virus. So, today we performed Brahma Puja, which is being performed for the last 30 years, we also worshipped gaumata to save the country,” he said.

He also said they organised a yagna (fire ritual) to stem the spread of the “deadly virus”.

“We want to tell the people of all religions to worship their gods so the spread of Covid-19 can be stopped. Gaumata puja was done so that the affected can be cured and the virus does not spread further,” Shill said.

He said they “worshipped” seven cows and hoped people across the country would carry out similar rituals to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Asked whether they believed that consuming cow urine could cure coronavirus, he said, “Yes, we believe consuming cow urine could cure coronavirus because some scientists are preparing a medicine using the ingredient. If possible, everybody should drink cow urine.”

In Tripura, 94 people were kept in isolation after they exhibited possible symptoms and all had travel history to Covid-19 affected countries. Of them, 24 were released as they tested negative for coronavirus.

According to a report of the Union ministry of health and family welfare, the total number of confirmed cases so far in the country on March 21, including foreign nationals, is 271.