The Shree Jagannath Temple here is likely to throw open its gates to devotees before New Year after being closed for nine months thanks to COVID-19, the temple administration said on Saturday.
The Shree Jagannath Temple here is likely to throw open its gates to devotees before New Year after being closed for nine months due to COVID-19, the temple administration said on Saturday.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Adminsitration (SJTA) chief administrator Krishan Kumar said the decision on reopening the temple was taken keeping in view the religious sentiments of the devotees and the COVID-19 protocol will be strictly observed when the 12th century shrine reopens.
A meeting of temple servitors ‘Chhatisa Nijog’ was held and the SJTA will send its recommendations to the state government for the final approval to reopen the temple, he told PTI.
Kumar said that it is planned to reopen the temple on December 23 and the people of Puri will get the first opportunity to enter the temple. The detailed standard operating procedure will be issued after the government’s approval.
We will urge the government to reopen the temple for residents of Puri in the first five days of its reopening.
These people are unable to have darshan of the Lords even though they live very close to the temple, he said.
The temple will remain closed on January 1 and 2 in view of the possibility of the rush of devotees to the pilgrim town on New Year’s Day.
However, from January 3 onwards the temple will be kept open for all.
From that day COVID-19 negative certificates given in the last 48 hours will be required and both RAT and RT-PCR tests will be allowed. All temple servitors will have to produce identity cards for entry into the shrine.
Initially, 5,000 devotees will be allowed to enter into the temple. “Thereafter the number of devotees allowed in per day will be gradually increased every week, he said.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Adminsitration (SJTA) chief administrator Krishan Kumar said the choice on reopening the temple was taken keeping in sight the religious sentiments of the devotees and therefore the COVID-19 protocol are going to be strictly observed when the 12th century shrine reopens.
A meeting of temple servitors ‘Chhatisa Nijog’ was held and therefore the SJTA will send its recommendations to the government for the ultimate approval to reopen the temple, he told PTI.
Kumar said that it’s planned to reopen the temple on December 23 and therefore the people of Puri will get the primary opportunity to enter the temple. The detailed standard procedure are going to be issued after the government’s approval.
We will urge the govt to reopen the temple for residents of Puri within the first five days of its reopening.
These people are unable to possess darshan of the Lords albeit they live very on the brink of the temple, he said.
The temple will remain closed on January 1 and a couple of in sight of the likelihood of the push of devotees to the pilgrim town on New Year’s Day Day.
However, from January 3 onwards the temple are going to be kept open for all.
From that day COVID-19 negative certificates given within the last 48 hours are going to be required and both RAT and RT-PCR tests are going to be allowed. All temple servitors will need to produce identity cards for entry into the shrine.
Initially, 5,000 devotees are going to be allowed to enter into the temple. “Thereafter the amount of devotees allowed in per day are going to be gradually increased hebdomadally , he said.
