BHUBANESWAR: The Puri district administration on Sunday started preparations for the possible reopening of the
Jagannath temple from December 23 as devotees wait to catch the first glimpse of the deities after almost nine months.
The temple administration on Saturday announced its decision to seek the state government’s approval for allowing only the residents of Puri entry into the 12th century shrine from December 23 and all other devotees from January 3.
The shrine has been shut for the devotees since March this year owing to the Covid-19 outbreak. Only servitors were allowed in the temple so far to perform the daily rituals.
The administration on Sunday engaged workers to put up barricades outside the temple for the creation of rows to ensure the smooth entry of devotees into the shrine through queues. The cleaning of the shrine’s outer periphery was also being carried out by sanitation workers.
“The district administration is working on finalising the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the smooth regulation of devotees and the darshan system in compliance with the government’s Covid-19 guidelines,” the temple’s chief administrator Krishan Kumar said.
While the administration has proposed a graded reopening of the temple starting with Puri locals in the first phase till December 31, the comprehensive SOP will have all the details relating to the procedure of selecting the devotees, who would be allowed to enter (whether through the online booking system or after buying a ticket), the number of devotees, the places of their stay (whether Puri town or other parts of the district) and identification of the proofs/documents they need to carry before entering the temple.
The SOP will also have clear details about whether the Covid-19 negative reports are mandatory for all devotees, including the residents of Puri, and the validity of the report with regard to subsequent visits by the same devotees.
The devotees can’t wait to visit the temple again. “We are hopeful that the state government will approve the temple administration’s proposal and allow it to be opened for devotees from December 23. I used to start my day with Jagannath darshan at the temple every morning. I wish I am among the lucky devotees, who get a chance to enter the temple whenever it reopens,” Jyotsna Tripathy, a resident of Dolamandap Sahi near the temple, said.
Happiness of devotees assumes significance as they were not allowed to participate in the major rituals and festivals, including Debasnan Purnima on June 5, Rath Yatra on June 23 and Nagarjuna Besha on November 27 of the temple owing to the restrictions imposed by the government in adherence to the Covid-19 guidelines.