According to the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration, the second phase of the Jagannath Temple in Puri will be gradually opened to the general public beginning Monday in accordance with the Covid-19 guidelines, Covid appropriate behaviour, and physical distancing rules (SJTA). From August 23, however, all devotees will be able to see the darshan.
The temple reopened in the first phase on August 12 after being closed for over three months due to the Covid-19 restrictions. In the first phase, only family members of the servants were allowed to enter the temple, according to PTI.
According to news agency ANI, the SJTA announced that residents of the Puri Municipality area will be allowed entry for darshan from August 16 to August 20, with darshan times ranging from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on all days when the temple is open.
According to the news agency PTI, the general public will be allowed entry starting August 23.
“A meeting was held on August 4 with Chhatisa Nijog members and all other stakeholders under the chairmanship of Dr. Krishan Kumar, the Chief Administrator of SJTA to discuss the matter. After detailed discussions and considering all the connected matters, it was decided to open the Temple on August 16, 2021 under strict guidelines,” an official notification released by the SJTA on August 11 stated, reports PTI.
Due to the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the temple was closed on April 24 this year and remained closed throughout the Ratha Yatra.
Here are the most recent temple reopening guidelines:
- The temple will be closed on weekends and major holidays, according to STJA.
- On all Saturdays and Sundays, the temple will be closed to the public for darshan in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus and sanitise the temple grounds.
- The temple will also be closed on major religious holidays in order to avoid any spikes in Covid-19 transmission due to the large crowds that are expected on such occasions.
- Outside Puri, devotees must produce a final Covid vaccination certificate or a Covid-negative RT-PCR report of testing within 96 hours.
