On reopening of the Jagannath Temple in the wake of ongoing Covid-19 crisis, there is a sharp division in servitors’ communities in Puri. While many servitors have urged the administration to reopen the temple, still many within the community have opposed it, apprehending spread of coronavirus further.
Servitors supporting the reopening showed cause of their ruining financial condition due to joblessness in last 6 months of the temple shutdown. And those opposing are of the opinion that the opening would spread infection and make the Covid situation grimmer.“With restrictions, temple should open. As shops and businesses haveopened everywhere giving a free move to public; so there is no reason to target the temple only,” said servitor Chintamani Singhari.
Purohit Padmanav Mohapatra was of opinion that if the Government could control the crowd then there was no problem in opening the shrine. Otherwise it is better to keep the shrine closed, he said, adding that the Government must decide keeping an eye on the Kartik month where large numbers of elderly women throng temple for fasting.
Meanwhile, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Tuesday conducted a meeting of seven Nijogs via video conferencing to know a suggestion. On Wednesday, it
would hold discussions with representatives of 8 Nijogs besides the Muktimandap. The process had begun since Monday with participation of five Nijogs. “We are meeting the Nijogs in phases and collecting opinion on reopening of the temple. The meeting is a part of Government's letter to the district Collector to know suggestions,” said SJTA Niti Administrator Jitendra Sahu.
Notably, the State Government has sent an order to all district Collectors to know opinions from temples and shrines present in their jurisdictions.
The Collectors have been directed to send it to State Government for a final decision on opening the shrines for public view.