Visitors to the famous Jagannath Temple of Puri will not be required to produce negative COVID-19 reports from January 21, 2021.
The announcement was made following a meeting between Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief Krishan Kumar, Puri District Magistrate-cum Collector Samarth Verma and Superintendent of Police K.B. Singh, media reports said.
Following relaxations in the pandemic containment rules, the temple was opened for the residents of Puri from December 23 last year. From January 3 this year, the temple was opened for all pilgrims. However, visitors were required to present COVID-19 negative reports as well as valid identity cards to gain entry. The decision to reopen the temple after the lockdown was taken after Chhatisa Nijog, the apex body of the temple priests, got a proposal approved by the state government recommending the reopening of the shrine in a graded manner.
A maximum of 5,000 devotees were being allowed to have daily darshan from January 3. According to media reports, the number is going to be increased to 30,000 daily from January 21. Plans to have special queues for the elderly or senior citizens are also on the anvil. However, all protocols remain in place, including wearing of masks and maintaining distancing norms. The temple will remain closed on Sundays for sanitisation and disinfection of the premises. It is also advisable to check the visitor entry timings before planning a visit.
The SJTA will review the situation on February 21 and decide the future course of action according to the situation.