Odisha: Servitors, their families can enter Puri temple on Thursday, Friday

BHUBANESWAR: Ahead of the graded reopening of the Puri Jagannath temple from August 16, the shrine administration has decided to exclusively allow the servitors and their immediate family members to have a darshan of the deities on Thursday and Friday.
According to the standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration on Wednesday, the servitors and their families will be allowed to enter the temple from the time of Mangala Aarti in the early hours until Ratri Pahuda for the next two days.
They have been asked to carry their health insurance cards issued by the temple administration, along with a photo identity proof, for a hassle-free access to the temple. The entry of non-servitor devotees and relatives of the servitors is strictly prohibited, the SOP said.
It also emphasised on the guidelines for the devotees, including residents of Puri, for entering the temple. As announced earlier, the residents of Puri urban area can step into the 12th century shrine from August 16 to 20. Its doors will be open for all devotees from August 23.
The temple will remain closed on all Saturdays and Sundays in view of the weekend shutdown in Puri. The devotees can have a darshan of the deities from 7am until 7pm on the weekdays, the SOP highlighted.
It will also remain shut on major festive occasions to avoid large congregation of devotees amid the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the SOP, the shrine will be closed for devotees on Janmashtami, which falls on August 30 and during Ganesh Chaturthi on September 10.
The temple administration said it is mandatory for the devotees to carry their vaccination certificates (full dose) or RT-PCR negative reports obtained 96 hours before their visit from August 23. However, these restrictions are not applicable to those (servitors, their families and Puri locals), who have been permitted to have a special darshan of the deities before August 23.
Kiosks will be set up outside the temple to check the vaccination certificates or RT-PCR negative reports of the devotees. The shrine body has also appealed to the devotees to not touch the idols or any structure on the temple premises.
They have been advised against offering bhog or lighting diyas in the temple. The devotees are allowed to purchase Mahaprasad, but cannot partake it inside the temple. Servitors are being made to undergo the necessary tests at dedicated Covid testing centres ahead of the reopening of the temple.