Odisha: COVID negative certificate not needed to enter Shri Jagannath temple from Jan 21

However all Covid guidelines like maintaining social distance, wearing of face masks and sanitising hands would be strictly enforced.

A meeting comprising of top officials of the held here today to streamline entry of large number of devotees from January 21 decided to waive the mandatory production of Covid 19 negative certificate.

Shri Jaganath Temple Administrators —JK Sahu, AK Jena , CDMO Sujata Mishra, Puri Muncipality Executive Officer BK Dash , S P K.Vishal Singh and a number of senior servitors participated in the meeting presided over by Collector Samarth Verma.

The meeting resolved to allow entry of local people into the temple from 6 AM to 7 AM with production of local ID proof while devotees from out side Puri could have darshan of the Trinity in four sessions.

The first session will start from 7.30 AM to 9 AM, second session would commence from 9.30 AM till 12 PM , the third from 12.30 PM to 4 PM and the fourth and final session from 4.30PM till closure of the temple gates.

The temple authorities said arrangements had been made for 30,000 devotees for the darshan of the deities from January 21 next.

A contigency plan has also been made to facilitate devotees if the number of devotees exceeded more than 30,000.

Sun shade canopies over the barricades, drinking water, shoe abd mobile phone stands provisions would be put in place before January 21 next for the convenience of devotees

Sources said a separate arrangement is being made for the senior citizens and People with Disability for the smooth darshan of the deities.

However all Covid guidelines like maintaining social distance, wearing of face masks and sanitising hands would be strictly enforced.

This apart devotees were prohibited from dining Mahaprasad in the Anand bazar the Mahaprasad market in the temple complex and they were advised not to touch any deity and idols in the temple complex.

Temple was closed for devotees since March 20 last due to corona pandemic and was opened on December 23 last .

During the period the servitors were performing all the nitees and rituals of the deities without devotees. Even annual Rath Yatra was conducted by servitors who pulled three chariots along the Badadanda to Gundicha temple.

Since the opening of the temple on December 23 last 1.25 lakh devotees including 65,000 locals have visited the temple.

Adequate police personnel would be deployed for smooth conduct of devotees in queue system within barricades to the temple for Darshan of lord Jagannath his elder Balabhadra and devi Subhadra.