The Jagannath Temple here reopened for all public on Sunday with about 3,000 devotees entering into the shrine on the day.
A negative Covid test report and adherence to the Covid guidelines were mandatory for the devotees visiting the temple for darshan of the deities. All visitors had to bring their photo ID cards like Aadhaar/Voter ID.
No one would be allowed to have Mahaprasad in the temple premises, said Puri district Collector Balwant Singh, adding that around 15,000 are expected to visit the shrine daily.
In Bhubaneswar, the Lingaraj Temple reopened for the residents of the capital city on the day.
Those visiting the temple are to produce Covid negative reports obtained during the last five days. “From 03.01.2021 to 05.01.2021, the temple will be opened exclusively for the citizens of Bhubaneswar by observing strict Covid-19 safety protocols,” the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.
Earlier from 27.12.2020 to 31.12.2020, only sevayats and their family members had been allowed to enter the shrine.
From 06.01.2021, tourists and devotees from other parts of the State/country would be allowed inside the temple. At one point of time, a maximum of 500 devotees would be allowed from Singhadwar to Ada Katha till 31.01.2021.
Sahan darshan/Garvagruha darshan would be banned till 31.01.2021. The decision on the maximum number of devotees who would be allowed entry after 31.01.2021 would be made after assessing the Covid situation.
A thermal screening centre and an antigen test centre near the temple would be functional from 03.01.2021 to 15.01.2021 in two batches from 7 am to 10 pm.
Those with SARI/ILI-like symptoms shall not be allowed inside the temple. Other vulnerable groups of people like person with co-morbidities, elderly persons, pregnant women and children below 10 years of age are advised not to visit temple.