Puri Jagannath Temple in Odisha Likely To Reopen on Dec 23
Bureau,Odishabarta
PURI: Shut since March after the corona virus outbreak, the Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri may finally re-open on December 23. After a meeting of the Chhatisha Nijog on Saturday, the temple administration decided to send in a proposal to Odisha Government next week recommending the re-opening of the shrine.
The re-opening may took place on 23rd, December and the residents of Puri will be allowed for DARSHAN till December 31 and for all devotees, the temple is proposed to be open from January 3 onwards.
“Basing on Chhatisha Nijog recommendations, the proposal is send for re-opening to the Odisha Government in next two to three days and after the approval, it might take five-six days to prepare before the temple is re-opened for pilgrims told to scribe by the Chief Administrator of Sri Jagannath Temple (SJTA) Dr. Krishan Kumar.
The temple will remain close for DARSHAN on Jan 1 and 2 during which it witnesses heavy rush and the administration acknowledged it would not be able to handle the situation. For all devotees, the temple may formally re-open from January 3 onwards.
The temple administrator, Dr.Krishan Kumar said it was at looking at allowing about 5,000 devotees a day initially for a week. “We have to adopt a graded approach before the number of entry is allowed.
According to administrator, devotees from other districts will have to furnish Covid-19 negative report in order to gain entry into the shrine.The SJTA will take necessary steps for sanitising all the four gates of the temple. Masks and sanitizers will be mandatory for the devotees coming to the temple for DARSHAN of the deities.
However, the Covid scenario would have to be borne in mind all the while and precautionary measures would be a priority. To minimize the spread of infection, Covid negative report for entry could become a norm but the details would have to be thrashed out. Similarly, restrictions on allowing Deep and flowers into the temple will also be imposed.
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