COVID Scare: No Mahaprasad Of Jagannath Temple For Devotees Outside Puri Town

Puri: Taking note of the rising COVID-19 positive cases in Puri, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has decided to stop the delivery of Mahaprasad on order outside the Pilgrim Town.

Talking to the media, secretary of Suara Mahasuara Nijog Krushna Chandra Pratihari said the number of sevayats afflicted with the COVID-19 has gone up while two sevayats have succumbed to the disease.

In order to arrest the spread of the coronavirus and ensure daily rituals of the Lords and safety of the sevayats, the temple administration has decided to limit the entry of the people engaged in the supply of vegetables and other cooking materials and the Bojhias who come to the temple to take the Mahaprasad ordered by the devotees.

The temple administration had a meeting with the district administration and the Suara Mahasuara Nijog in this connection. It was decided that barring the Kotha Bhoga (Sakala Dhupa, Madhyanna Dhupa, Sandhya Dhupa and Badasinghara Bhoga), there will be restrictions in the sale of Mahaprasad in Bhoga Mandap which is ordered by the people from outside Puri for marriage and other social functions.

“Henceforth, no order of Mahaprasad will be accepted from outside Puri town. For the sevayats and the people of Puri town, the Mahaprasad will be prepared for 1000-1500 people,” Pratihari said.

The COVID-19 positive cases in Puri district have gone up to 4423 with 3259 recoveries and 1145 active cases. Besides, 16 people have died of the disease.

Of the total positive cases in the district, the Puri Municipality alone accounts for 1580 cases.